Lagos Mall Collapse: One Dead, 15 Rescued as Emergency Teams Search for Survivors

By Desmond Ogbonmwan

Rescue teams are racing against time after a three-storey shopping complex collapsed on Thursday morning at Oluti Bus Stop along Old Ojo Road, opposite Eternal Oil Filling Station in the Alakija area of Lagos State, leaving one person dead and at least 15 others rescued.

Emergency officials said search-and-rescue operations remain ongoing amid fears that several people are still trapped beneath the rubble.

The incident occurred in the Ori-Ade Local Council Development Area (LCDA), drawing a massive response from emergency agencies, security personnel and concerned residents who gathered at the scene.

According to a police officer involved in the rescue operation, about 15 victims—including children and infants—have so far been pulled alive from the collapsed structure.

Authorities also confirmed one fatality, while efforts continue to locate additional occupants believed to be trapped.

Rescue Operation Continues

Officials from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), the Nigeria Police Force, the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), the military and other emergency responders have been deployed to the site.

Heavy equipment and rescue teams continued searching through the debris on Thursday, with anxious relatives waiting nearby for updates on missing loved ones.

Several eyewitnesses reported hearing cries for help from beneath the rubble, raising hopes that more survivors could still be rescued.

One resident at the scene said rescuers could hear someone trapped inside the collapsed building.

“There is another person making a noise from under the building. A lot of people are still alive inside there,” the witness said.

Another eyewitness, Musa, who was riding his motorcycle nearby when the incident occurred, described hearing a loud crash before turning back to discover the building had collapsed.

“I was going to Mile 2 when I suddenly heard a loud noise behind me. I moved forward before turning back and realised the shopping complex had collapsed,” he recalled.

Another survivor said she narrowly escaped after arriving at the building moments before the collapse.

“I had just arrived outside the shop. Less than five minutes later, I heard a loud sound and saw dust everywhere. I was carrying my child and didn’t know where to run,” she said.

Previous Warning Signs

Residents familiar with the building claimed it had shown signs of structural weakness long before Thursday’s collapse.

One resident alleged that a tenant had moved out nearly two years ago after expressing concerns about the condition of the property.

“My boss operated a cyber café inside the mall but relocated because he believed the building was unsafe,” the resident said.

Others also claimed visible cracks appeared in parts of the structure earlier this week, while some alleged that the Lagos State Government had previously marked the building for evacuation.

Authorities have not yet officially confirmed those claims.

Relief Amid Tragedy

Despite the devastation, rescue workers recorded a significant breakthrough after successfully pulling a young boy alive from the debris, prompting applause and emotional reactions from onlookers.

Medical personnel immediately transported rescued victims to Navy Town Hospital, Alakija, where they are receiving treatment.

Families of those still missing remained at the scene, praying as rescue teams continued efforts to locate anyone trapped beneath the collapsed building.

Investigation Expected

Authorities are expected to investigate the cause of the collapse, including whether the building complied with structural safety regulations and if any previous warnings had been issued regarding its condition.

The incident has once again renewed public concern over building safety standards in Lagos, where several fatal structural collapses have occurred in recent years.

Rescue operations were still ongoing at the time of publication, and officials said casualty figures could change as more victims are located.