An unspecified number of students are feared dead, while several others remain trapped after a three-storey hostel collapsed in Oko, a host community of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, in Nigeria’s Anambra State.
The building, identified as Elite Five Star Lodge, is reportedly located behind the institution.
Rescue operations are ongoing, with volunteers working alongside personnel from the Police Command, Fire Service and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to search for survivors trapped beneath the rubble.
Several victims have already been rescued and transported to a hospital in Oko for treatment, while bodies recovered from the debris have been deposited at a mortuary.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the number of fatalities or those still trapped.
A statement issued by the police command said security agencies responded immediately after receiving a distress call.
According to him, police officers, in collaboration with other emergency responders, secured the area to prevent further danger and coordinated ongoing rescue efforts.
He noted that the number of casualties could not yet be confirmed as emergency teams continue searching the collapsed structure for additional victims.
The police have appealed to residents to remain calm, refrain from spreading unverified information and stay away from the scene to allow rescue personnel unrestricted access as the operation continues.
