At least 13 people were saved when a two-story structure under construction in Calabar, Cross River State’s capital, fell.
On Saturday, April 29, 2023, workers were attempting to construct the second decking of the building on Nta Eke Street, along the Efio-Ette axis of Ikot Ishie.
According to reports, medics and other essential staff were dispatched to rescue the victims and transport them to the hospital.
According to Eric Anderson, the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, the inquiry revealed that the reason of the building collapse was not unrelated to negligence and the use of substandard building materials.
He stated that the builder’s actions had previously drawn the attention of the Ministry of Urban Renewal, who issued them an advising stop-work notice, which they (the builder) ignored.
“A number of people trapped in the collapsed building have already been rescued and taken to hospitals for proper treatment,” Anderson said.
“The government hereby notes and appreciates the quick intervention of the member-elect for Calabar Municipality, Mr Stanley Nsemo, in providing the excavator and emergency relief materials, as well as collaborating with the Ministry of Health to ensure that ambulances were on the ground to convey affected persons to the hospital.”
The commissioner said in an update on Sunday, April 30, that 13 workers were at the site before the event, but only 10 were there when it happened because three took a break.
“The original number of workers at the site was 13, but three took a break before the incident, leaving only ten on the ground when the building collapsed.” We can account for the ten people, but the security guard said a boy was seen at the location seconds before the fall.”
