By Chinyere Nwoye
A three-storey building under construction has collapsed at Okpoko in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, killing a woman and her 14-year-old daughter.
The incident occurred on Thursday morning, October 8, at No. 11 Emeka Ugwuanyi Street, by Anabanaba, Okpoko, amid heavy rainfall.
The collapsed structure reportedly fell on a boys’ quarters located close to the building, trapping occupants who were inside at the time of the incident.
The victims were identified as Mrs Happiness Ugoagu and her 14-year-old daughter, Miss Confidence, both indigenes of Uga in Aguata Local Government Area.
They were reportedly asleep when the building collapsed on the boys’ quarters.
Following the incident, residents, sympathisers and emergency responders immediately mobilised to the scene in an effort to rescue the trapped persons and clear the debris.
The Coordinator of the Local Emergency Management Agency and an indigene of Ogbaru, Mr Nnamdi Esmai, said efforts were being intensified to rescue those trapped under the rubble.
The Administration Officer in charge of the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, Mrs Ndidi Omega, confirmed that an excavator had been deployed to the scene to support the rescue operation.
Similarly, the Head of Operations, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA Enugu Operations Office, Mrs Priscilla Madukwe, confirmed that a team had been dispatched to the scene to support the ongoing emergency response.
The rescue operation, supervised by the Mayor of Ogbaru Local Government Area, Mr Nnamdi Ifejika, continued for several hours before the remains of the mother and her daughter were recovered from beneath the debris.
The remains of the victims have since been evacuated to a morgue, while emergency responders and residents remained at the scene to remove the remaining debris and ensure that the area was safe.
Reacting to the tragedy, the Member representing Ogbaru State Constituency I, Mr Noble Igwe, sympathised with the family of the deceased, describing the incident as unfortunate and devastating.
The cause of the building collapse had not been established as of the time of filing this report.
Chinyere Nwoye is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
