2-storey building collapses in Port Harcourt

An appendage of a two-story hotel has collapsed in the Ada-George area of Port Harcourt, leaving four injured people now receiving treatment in hospital.

It was gathered that the two-story building belonging to the 1708 Hotel, Rumuoke by Okilton Junction, off Ada George, collapsed at about 6.15 a.m. on Thursday.

The incident occurred when some residents of the area were still asleep and the occupants of the building, who were mainly site workers, were getting ready to resume for the day’s job.

Mr. Emeka Woke, the Rivers State Commissioner for Works, while inspecting the level of damage and causal effect of the incident, said that the government would take every measure to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the collapse.

“Early this morning, the governor, Siminialaye Fubara, was informed about this building collapse, and he directed that I immediately visit the site on his behalf and assess the extent of damage and report back to him.

“Having seen the building, the first thing we did was carry out a personnel audit, and from available records, no life was lost, but we have been told that four people sustained some injuries and were taken to the hospital for treatment,” he said.

The commissioner said that the governor also directed that the premises of the collapsed building be sealed off pending an investigation.

He, however, noted that rescue operations were ongoing at the site, basically to evacuate the rubble.

Mr. Isa Aghaebne, an engineer handling the integrity test on the collapsed building, said a structural integrity test will commence on Friday.

He, however, noted that the collapse might possibly be due to foundation failure or failure of the structure itself.

“We can’t ascertain this now until we have concluded an integrity test, which is expected to last for about two weeks,” he said.

It was gathered that the collapsed building is part of an expansion of an existing building.