Three people have been feared dead and over 40 others are trapped under the rubbles of a Two-Storey suspended building which collapsed on Thursday at 7th Avenue, Gwarinpa, Abuja.
More than 20 people were said to have been rescued as at press time.
The building, a commercial complex under construction was sited in a “Green Area”, a violation of the Abuja Master Plan.
Director, Department of Development Control in the Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA, Mukhtar Galadima, confirmed the incident.
Emergency responders and security personnel have since cordoned off the premises as part of rescue operations.
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Meanwhile, Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, Engr. Shehu Hadi who was at the scene lamented that there has been indiscriminate changes in land use within the district.
It will be recalled that Gwarinpa District is an area allocated to the Federal Housing Authority FHA by the FCT Administration for the development of mass housing estate.
Also, Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council AMMC, Umar Shuaibu said investigation will commence immediately to ascertain both the remote and immediate causes of the collapse.
According to an eye0-witness, John Edwin, workers at the site, especially labourers conveying blocks to the top, were over 50. It was not immediately clear if all of them were in the building as of the time of the incident.
