In a heart-wrenching incident that unfolded on Sunday, a construction site in Anambra community became the scene of a devastating tragedy. At least three lives were tragically lost when a three-story building under construction came crashing down. The ill-fated incident took place in Egbu Umuenem, Otolo Nnewi community, situated within the Nnewi North Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
The catastrophic collapse occurred around 1:00 PM, just as construction workers were preparing to commence plastering work on the structure. Eyewitnesses recount a grim scene, where a father and his two children, who had arrived at the site for their day’s work, met a sudden and unfortunate end. Their lives were snuffed out on the spot.
Frantic efforts were made to save those trapped under the debris, and several other workers were successfully rescued. However, they suffered various degrees of injuries and were promptly transported to St. Felix Hospital in Nnewi for immediate medical attention.
Responding to this calamity, Mr. Victor Meju, the Chairman of the Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) Anambra Chapter, arrived at the scene with a team of state officials from the council. Meju, visibly shaken by the incident, attributed the building collapse to a series of factors, including subpar foundation, improper concrete mixture, inferior construction materials, and a lack of approval from relevant regulatory authorities.
In light of these grave oversights, Meju announced that the building would be sealed off, and the owner, Mr. Chukwunafu Anamanjo, summoned for questioning and a thorough investigation into the tragedy.
Mr. Chris Obiora, the Transition Committee Chairman of Nnewi North LGA, added his voice to the chorus of concern, urging the community to engage certified engineers and other qualified professionals for their construction projects. He emphasized the importance of monitoring teams to ensure that builders adhere to prescribed standards, thereby averting future catastrophes.
As news of the disaster rippled through the state, concerned citizens awaited official statements from the authorities. However, the state Police Command’s spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed that they had not received information regarding the incident at that time. He assured the public that the matter would be promptly escalated to the Divisional Police Officer in the area for necessary action.
