By Philomina Attah
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has recovered one body following the collapse of a four-storey uncompleted building in Enugu on Sunday.
The structure at Independence Layout collapsed around 6:00 a.m., according to a statement released on Sunday by NEMA Press Unit official, Mr Manzo Ezekiel.
Following the incident, NEMA Director-General, Mrs Zubaida Umar, immediately deployed an Emergency Rescue Team from the Enugu Operations Office to lead search efforts alongside local responders.
Ezekiel stated that search teams arriving at the scene learned individuals were trapped beneath the rubble and commenced immediate rescue operations.
He said responders deployed heavy machinery, including an excavator, to support the painstaking clearing of debris to rescue trapped victims.
By 11:20 a.m., joint rescue workers successfully retrieved the lifeless body of a male victim from the collapsed building.
The NEMA official added that responders continue to search through the debris to ascertain if other victims remain trapped beneath the rubble.
The ongoing operation involves NEMA, Enugu State Emergency Management Agency, Nigeria Police, Fire Service, Ministry of Works, and Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority. (NAN)
Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi