A three-storey private hostel accommodating students of the Federal Polytechnic Oko has collapsed in Amokpala, Oko, in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, leaving an undetermined number of occupants trapped beneath the rubble.
The building, identified as Elite Five Star Lodge, reportedly caved in late Sunday night near Tonimas Filling Station in the Oko Polytechnic community, triggering panic among residents and students as cries for help were heard from beneath the debris.
Emergency responders, including personnel of the Anambra State Police Command, the Anambra State Fire Service, the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and other security and emergency agencies, were deployed to the scene to commence search-and-rescue operations.
Several injured victims have been pulled from the collapsed structure and taken to a hospital in Oko for treatment, while rescue teams continue efforts to reach other occupants believed to be trapped under the debris.
Authorities said the exact number of casualties and those trapped could not be immediately confirmed, as rescue operations were still ongoing at the time of filing this report.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said a police-led joint security team swiftly secured the area and coordinated emergency response efforts to prevent further loss of life.
He urged residents to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information, and stay away from the scene to allow emergency workers unhindered access to carry out rescue operations.
Ikenga added that the police command would provide further updates as more verified information becomes available.
Boluwatife Enome
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