Many trapped in four collapsed Awka, Oko buildings

FOUR buildings collapsed yesterday in various locations in Anambra State.

  While a two-storey building under construction collapsed at Amikwo Village in Awka, Awka South Local Government Area, another two-storey building also collapsed at Oko, in Orumba North Local Government Area.

  Officials of Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) have already sealed the four collapsed buildings.

  Residents say about four persons were trapped in debris of the two-storey that collapsed in Oko, with many injured people rescued with injuries, though neighbours said no fewer than 20 persons escaped death in the building that collapsed in Awka.

  According to an eyewitness, the Amikwo building fell on another nearby two-storey.

Reacting to the development, Managing Director of ACTDA, Amaechi Okwuosa said the building in Awka has been under construction for the past 10 years though it was marked for demolition in 2018.

  “Although the developer had commenced demolition of the building, the right equipment was not being used, hence the collapse,” he said.

  Okwuosa also pledged the agency’s commitment to ensuring structural integrity of buildings constructed in the capital territory.

But reacting to the Oko incident, Executive Chairman of Anambra Physical Planning Board, Chike Maduekwe, blamed the incident on compromised  structural integrity, adding that the structure has been sealed while developers have been invited for questioning.