By Abimbola Ogunnaike
Tragedy occurred in Ochanja market in the commercial city of Onitsha, Anambra State Onitsha on Monday, 27 February as six people were confirmed dead while 20 others injured after a building meant to serve as a market on completion, collapsed.
It was gathered that the building collapsed at about 8 pm on Monday with some of the workers still inside the building.
The situation created panic around the area as passers-by and residents were making efforts to rescue the trapped victims from the rubble.
The Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, which confirmed the sad development, said most of them sustained various levels of injuries and are currently receiving treatment at a nearby hospital around the market.
“About six bodies recovered from the rubbles have been deposited at the morgue, while those who sustained varying degrees of injuries were taken to the nearby hospital for medical attention, rescue efforts are still ongoing,” SEMA officials said in a statement released on Tuesday, 27 February, 2027.
The Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has visited the Ochanje building site in the commercial city of Onitsha to inspect the extent of damages and cause of the incident.
While at the scene, the governor promised that he would ensure that the victims of the collapsed building receive justice.
The collapsed three-storey building still under construction, which was meant to serve as a market on completion, collapsed at about 8 pm on Monday, while some of the workers and traders were still in the building.
Soludo who was visibly angry at the scene said he was not aware that the construction of the building was going on at the market.
“When investigations are completed, the developer, the Chairman of the market and every other person involved in the disaster will be prosecuted and jailed.
“The remaining building under construction by the same developer, near the collapsed one will be demolished immediately after rescue operations on the site have been completed,” He
The governor also stated that any construction in any market in Anambra State without his express approval will be demolished while vowing that every other existing building must pass through an integrity test.
Also, the Commissioner for Special Duties, Beverly Ikpeazu-Nkemdiche also mourned the victims of the collapse and assured the families that the state government would make sure that no one who was culpable in the disaster went unpunished.
Soludo was joined on the visit by top government officials, where he ordered that more excavators be brought to the site of the collapse to help in the rescue operations.
As of the time of filing this report, rescue operations were still ongoing to search for more trapped victims in the rubble.
