One Dead, Two Rescued Alive as Three-Storey Shopping Complex Collapses in Lagos

A three-storey shopping complex has collapsed in the Alakija area of Lagos State, leaving one person dead while rescue teams continue searching for additional victims feared trapped beneath the rubble.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed the incident on Thursday, saying a full-scale multi-agency rescue operation had been activated immediately after the structural collapse.

Emergency responders drawn from several agencies are currently working at the scene, carrying out coordinated search-and-rescue efforts to locate and extricate anyone trapped under the debris.

According to LASEMA, two victims have so far been rescued alive from the collapsed structure through the joint efforts of emergency personnel and other responding agencies.

The agency disclosed that the successful rescue operation involved officials of LASEMA, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), and the China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC).

Rescue workers are continuing to comb through the wreckage amid concerns that more occupants may still be trapped.

LASEMA also confirmed that the body of an adult male victim has been located within the debris.

Recovery efforts were ongoing at the time of the latest update.

Authorities cautioned that the casualty figure could change as rescue teams gain further access to the collapsed structure.

Emergency officials said reports from the scene indicate that additional persons, including shop owners who had resumed business activities within the complex, may still be trapped.

The possibility of more victims beneath the rubble has intensified rescue efforts, with responders working against time to reach inaccessible sections of the collapsed building.

Heavy-duty equipment, including excavators, has been deployed to support the operation and assist in clearing debris safely.

The rescue operation involves multiple emergency and regulatory agencies working in coordination to manage the incident.

Officials said efforts remain focused on saving lives, recovering victims and securing the area to prevent further danger.

LASEMA appealed to members of the public to remain calm and avoid the disaster scene to enable emergency workers carry out operations without obstruction.

The agency stressed that unrestricted access to the site is critical to ongoing life-saving efforts.

"LASEMA will continue to provide verified updates as the operation progresses," the agency said in a statement issued by its Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu.

The cause of the collapse has not yet been officially determined and authorities are expected to launch investigations after rescue operations are concluded.

This remains a developing story.