Synagogue Church Building Collapse Claims 15 Lives In Lagos

 

Synagogue-Church-Collapse in Lagos: Ambulance rushes victims to a hospital. Photo: ‏@_OOF_

Many people feared dead, injured, while dozens of others remain trapped following the collapse of a building belonging to the Synagogue Church, Ikotun in Lagos.


The initial information is also confirmed by individuals on social media. About 15 people feared dead. However, the official figure has not been announced.
The official page of SCOAN founder, Prophet T.B.Joshua, issued a brief comment about 6 hours after the tragedy. The statement did not say anything about deaths, mentioned only “few people” who had been rescued.

The building, which was initially designed as two storey but later was remade into five storey, collapsed due to yet-to-be identified reasons. This building serves as a guest house for people travelling from far and for foreign visitors of the Synagogue Church, however, it has not been fully completed yet.
The collapse occurred after 12 in the afternoon. The total number of people present at the building at the time of the tragedy is controversial, ranging from 70 to 200. The possible victims include foreign believers, church members, canteen and construction workers.

Search and rescue operation at a section of the Synagogue Church, Ikotun area of Lagos. Photo: TheHerald

At least 7 ambulances have arrived the scene almost immediately. Passers-by and drivers were reportedly helping to evacuate the victims to hospitals.

A military helicopter was seen hovering above the area shortly after the collapse. Strong police presence reported by multiple eyewitnesses as well.

According to SaharaReproters, Church security staff behaved in an aggressive way, attacked reporters of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and broke their camera. Work of the officials of the Nigerian National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has been also disrupted. One of the possible reasons is that the administration of the Church might have tried to cover up the real cause of the collapse and its scale.
This development caused pandemonium in the area and heavy traffic for those who were heading to Ikotun from Ejigbo, Mushin and related directions.

People injured in SCOAN guest house collapse in Lagos. Photo: SaharaReporters

People injured in SCOAN guest house collapse in Lagos. Photo: SaharaReporters

According to TheNation, the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, Friday Adeboayo, confirmed the recovery of at least 15 dead bodies, adding that rescue operations to evacuate the injured persons would go on.
At the same time, Punch put the number of the deceased to 50.