JUST IN: One dead, four injured as building collapses in Delta

The Nation gathered construction of the building located on Holy Mary road behind the Nigeria Police Officers Mess in the suburbs of Asaba commenced about two weeks ago.

It was learnt the one- storey building was originally a car park but remodelled and was already being roofed when it collapsed .

The Nation learnt the collapsed structure was been supervised by its owner, a 76-year-old retired Captain.

The structure was being built in a compacted space in the compound with two structures, an uncompleted decking and a bungalow where the owner resides.

Another structure at the decking level was also being built in the limited space.

Neighbours made frantic efforts to rescue those trapped in the rubbles with their bare hands and shovels before the arrival of two excavators.

The owner of the building, who was among those trapped, suffered severe head injuries.

He was rescued by the ring tone of his cellphone under a pile of rubbles as rescuers tried to know his exact location under the debris.

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A survivor and carpenter working on the building, Mr Ike Ifenacho, said he was on the roof top doing the skeletal wood work on the building when he noticed the building was caving in and had to jump off .

He sustained minor injuries on his jaw and leg.

Chairman of Oshimili South Local Government Council, Uche Osadebe, said he made calls to relevant authorities and mobilised to the place when he got the information through a Councillor representing the area

He blamed the collapsed structure to substandard building materials and self-supervision by the owner.

He added the building does not have approval from relevant government ministries and agencies.

An official of Red Cross and Leader Disaster Management Team, Oshimili South,Sunday Moses and Delta State Emergency Management Agency SEMA,Okpor Daniel, said four persons were rescued alive with injuries while one was brought out dead from the rubble with the help of the excavator.

An eyewitness, Friday James, said he heard a big bang and ran out of his house only to discover a building had collapsed and quickly mobilised others with shovel and started digging to rescue those trapped under.

He said three persons were rescued from under the rubble, including the owner of the building while one was brought out dead.