One worker has died and four others have been rescued after a four-storey building under construction collapsed in Enugu State on Sunday morning.
The structure came down on Ogbalu Street, Independence Layout, Enugu, at about 6 a.m., while workers were reportedly sleeping at the construction site.
Four of the workers were pulled from the debris and taken to the Enugu State Teaching Hospital for medical attention, according to the Enugu State Capital Territory.
The agency disclosed that six people had been sleeping at the site when the building collapsed. One of them had, however, stepped out shortly before the incident, leaving five people inside the structure at the time of the collapse.
Rescue teams subsequently recovered one body from the wreckage as emergency operations continued at the location.
The incident has brought renewed attention to the safety of construction sites, particularly the need for strict compliance with approved building standards and proper monitoring of structures under development.
The cause of the collapse had not been established as of the time of reporting. Authorities were yet to determine whether the incident resulted from structural defects, construction practices, materials used or other factors.
Several emergency and security agencies have been deployed to the scene to support the rescue operation and secure the area.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Enugu State Capital Territory Development Authority (ESCTDA) and the police are participating in the response.
The rescued workers are receiving treatment as emergency personnel search through the debris and assess the site.
The presence of workers sleeping within an unfinished multi-storey structure also adds a significant dimension to the incident, given the risks associated with occupying buildings that are yet to be completed and certified for use.
Authorities are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the collapse as rescue efforts give way to investigation.
The latest incident comes amid persistent concerns over building failures in Nigeria, where collapses have repeatedly raised questions about construction supervision, adherence to approved designs, the quality of building materials and enforcement of development regulations.
For now, however, officials have not assigned responsibility for the Enugu collapse.
The immediate priority at the site is the rescue operation, treatment of survivors and recovery of any additional victims who may still be trapped beneath the rubble.
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