By Oluwatobi Omotosho
An unspecified number of people are feared trapped after a three-storey students’ hostel collapsed in Oko, the host community of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The building, identified as Elite Five Star Lodge, is located beside Tonimas Filling Station in the Amokpala area behind the institution. The cause of the collapse has yet to be determined.
Rescue operations are ongoing, with volunteers, personnel of the Anambra State Police Command, the Anambra State Fire Service and the State Emergency Management Agency working to rescue victims trapped beneath the rubble.
Some injured persons have been pulled from the debris and taken to a hospital in Oko for treatment, while bodies recovered from the scene have been deposited in a mortuary. Authorities are yet to confirm the number of casualties.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said security agencies responded promptly after receiving a distress call, secured the area and coordinated rescue efforts.
The police said rescue operations are continuing to reach other victims who may still be trapped and urged residents to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information and stay away from the scene to allow emergency responders unhindered access.
