At least 22 students were killed on Friday when a school collapsed in the city of Jos in the African state of Nigeria. Rescue workers frantically searched for survivors.
Another 73 people had been rescued from the rubble by Saturday afternoon, the Nigerian Red Cross announced on Platform X. The exact number of victims is still unknown. The Plateau state government declared a three-day mourning period for the victims of the accident on Saturday.
More than 200 injured rescued
The school was also ordered to close immediately. So far, over 200 injured people have been rescued and taken to hospitals. The search for a child and a teacher is currently underway.
The Plateau State Central Commissioner for Information and Communications, Musa Ibrahim Ashoms, confirmed that the accident occurred during class at Saint Academy Secondary School in Jos town. According to information, about 200 students were in the collapsed part of the building.
Collapse after days of rain
The collapse of the two-story building came after days of rain in the region. Authorities announced an investigation into the exact causes of the collapse. Negligence, lax adherence to building codes and poor quality materials have made building collapses common in Africa’s most populous country.
In recent years, Nigeria has seen repeated major building collapses, resulting in many fatalities. Most of these can be attributed to poor construction, inferior materials and corruption.
At least 45 people were killed in 2021 when a building under construction collapsed in the exclusive Ikoyi district of Lagos. According to a South African researcher, at least 152 buildings have collapsed in the economic metropolis since 2005.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
