NEMA, SEMA, FIRE SERVICE LEAD RESCUE OPERATIONS AT AMAOKPALA BUILDING COLLAPSE SITE

By Chinyere Nwoye

The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, and the Anambra State Fire Service are leading coordinated search and rescue operations following the collapse of a three-storey building at Elite Five Star Lodge, Amaokpala, Oko, in Orumba North Local Government Area.

The incident occurred late in the night of July 26, trapping several occupants beneath the rubble and prompting the immediate deployment of emergency response teams to the scene.

The Head of NEMA’s Enugu Operations Office, Mrs. Priscilla Madukwe, is coordinating the federal agency’s response at the site. She is working alongside the Deputy Director of SEMA and senior officers of the Anambra State Fire Service as rescue teams continue efforts to locate and extract victims from the debris.

The Deputy Director of SEMA has appealed to residents and members of the public to remain calm and cooperate fully with emergency responders. He urged people to avoid actions that could disrupt or endanger the ongoing rescue operation.

Security has also been reinforced at the collapse site. The Anambra State Police-led Joint Security Team swiftly cordoned off the area after receiving the distress call and is working closely with NEMA, SEMA, the Fire Service, and other relevant agencies to ensure a safe and effective emergency response.

Officials from the State Physical Planning Department, the Mayor of Orumba North LGA, and other emergency responders are also on ground. They are providing technical support, assessing the structural integrity of the site, and ensuring the safety of both rescue personnel and residents in the surrounding area.

As of press time, rescue operations were still ongoing. Teams equipped with specialized tools were combing through the collapsed structure in search of possible survivors still trapped under the rubble.

Authorities said the exact number of casualties and those trapped has not yet been confirmed. However, some injured victims have been pulled from the debris and rushed to a hospital in Oko for medical treatment.

NEMA, SEMA and the Anambra State Fire Service have reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining the rescue operation until every possible victim is accounted for.

The agencies also urged the public to rely only on official updates from responding authorities and to avoid spreading unverified information about the incident.