A 21-storey luxury apartment building under construction in an upscale area of Nigeria’s largest city, Lagos, has collapsed, killing at least three people and leaving dozens more missing.
Lagos Police Commissioner Hakeem Odumosu confirmed the deaths and said three survivors had been pulled from the rubble.
Officials arriving at the scene in the affluent neighbourhood of Ikoyi were confronted by crowds of people venting their anger that rescue efforts started several hours after the collapse.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency said it had activated its emergency response plan.
“All first responders are at the scene while heavy duty equipment and life detection equipment have been dispatched,” the agency said in a statement.
Workers said the high-rise apartment building had been under construction for about two years, and it was not immediately known what had caused the collapse.
However, such incidents are relatively common in Lagos because enforcement of building code regulations is weak.
The building was part of three towers being built by private developer Fourscore Homes with the cheapest unit was selling for $1.2 million.
Key points:
More than 100 people were inside the building when it crumbled
The building was one of three luxury towers being built in the area
The cause of the collapse isn’t known.
