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Many people are feared trapped when a two-storey building collapsed on Thursday in Amawbia, Awka South, Anambra State, southeastern Nigeria.
This comes less than a month after a five-storey building collapsed in Onitsha, Onitsha North Local Government Area of the state, in mid-June.
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How the latest collapse happened
In the latest incident, residents told PREMIUM TIMES that the two-storey building, which was under construction, collapsed around noon on Thursday.
A witness, Pat Okoye, said the building, located inside the Eke Amawbia market, collapsed while some shop owners were still going about their business.
“The building had been giving out signals, but everyone ignored it. Now, let’s see what has come of it.”
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“Many traders are stuck there as I speak to you,” Mr. Okoye said at 3 p.m.
Some residents believe the building began to collapse due to the use of substandard materials.
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A video circulating on social media shows some residents digging through the rubble to rescue trapped victims.
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Police officers and emergency management agency officials were also seen at the scene.
The police speak
The Anambra State Police have confirmed the incident.
In a statement on Thursday, police spokesperson in the state, Tochukwu Ikenga, said police officers have been dispatched to the scene of the incident.
Mr Ikenga, a police superintendent, said officers were dispatched to the area after receiving a distress call at around 12.40pm on Thursday.
READ ALSO: Four suspected illegal miners arrested in Anambra —- Official
“Police officers rescued two victims and took them to the hospital for medical attention,” he said.
The spokesman said the state Commissioner of Police, Nnaghe Itam, and the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations, led officers to the area for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.
He said the area had been cordoned off while rescue operations were still ongoing.
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