Tragedy: Scores Die In Synagogue Building Collapse

The collapsed building at Synagogue Church of All Nations in Lagos  credits: NEMA LASEMA

Saturday PUNCH reports a six-storey building belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nations, Ikotun, Lagos, collapsed on Friday with no fewer than 50 persons feared dead.

The building, which was under construction, was initially a two-storey building before the addition of four new floors which were under construction.

Saturday PUNCH gathered that the building, which housed guests and members of the church, already had so many people lodged in it before the incident.

The six-storey building, which collapsed around 1pm, was under construction.

The Synagogue Church of All Nations was founded by Prophet Temitope Joshua.

As at 3pm when our correspondent got to the scene, hundreds of people were seen, crying and wailing.

A 10-year-old child was among the dead and some foreigners were among the victims said to have been rescued alive. As of the time of going to press, several persons were still trapped in the collapsed building.

Another view of the collapsed building at Synagogue Church of All Nations in Lagos  credits: NEMA LASEMA

However, the exact number of casualties could not be confirmed as of the time of filing this report as there were conflicting reports from emergency agencies and eyewitnesses.

For instance, the Public Relations Officer, National Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, in a phone conversation with our correspondent on Friday evening, confirmed the recovery of three dead bodies and 15 persons rescued alive.

He said, “We have recovered three dead bodies and a child of about 10 years was among them. The others were adults and one of them had his leg chopped off. Before we arrived at the scene, 15 persons had been rescued alive and taken to the hospital. But there are people still trapped in the building and rescue efforts are still ongoing.”

The General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, who could not confirm the figure of the dead victims, said 15 bodies and 20 survivors were recovered from the debris.