One Dead, Three Rescued as Three-storey building Collapses in Port Harcourt

One person died and three others were pulled alive from the rubble on Wednesday after a three-storey building under construction collapsed along Odili Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The collapse happened in the mid-morning hours while workers were on site.

Witnesses described the structure as a proposed hotel or shopping complex.

It is the second building collapse in Rivers State in less than 48 hours, after a similar incident was reported in Iwofe.

—“We could still hear voices”—

Rescue teams from the Rivers State Police Command, NEMA, Nigerian Red Cross, and local volunteers mobilized immediately. Workers were trapped beneath concrete and steel when the building suddenly gave way.

ACP Ikechukwu Okoro, Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, said the Commissioner of Police ordered the area cordoned off to protect rescuers and prevent looting.

“We have been here since morning. So far, three persons have been rescued alive, though they sustained varying degrees of injuries. Unfortunately, one of the victims later died after being taken to the hospital,” Okoro said.

He confirmed the priority was life-saving and public safety.

Val Onwumelu, known locally as the “Instigator of Port Harcourt,” deployed heavy-duty equipment to help excavate the debris.

“When we arrived, we could hear voices from within the debris. We carefully carried out excavation work with our engineers and successfully rescued two persons alive. Sadly, one casualty has been recorded,” he said.

Red Cross Emergency First Aid Coordinator Yibotemeka Kalio said the agency assessed the site before deploying medics.

“Our team is on the ground working with other emergency agencies to conduct search and rescue operations. Efforts are ongoing to ensure all victims are accounted for,” he said.

Witness Emmanuel Okon said the collapse occurred while construction work was ongoing, triggering panic among residents and traders nearby.

—FHA-approved, not state project — Rivers govt—

Rivers State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Edward Hart, visited the site and said preliminary findings show the property was allocated and its building plan approved by the Federal Housing Authority, FHA, not the state government.

“The building that collapsed was approved by the Federal Housing Authority. However, as a responsible government, we responded immediately to support rescue efforts and assess the situation,” Hart said.

He blamed recurring collapses on three factors: deviation from approved plans, use of substandard materials, and hiring of unqualified personnel.

“Some developers fail to comply with approved plans, while others exceed approved specifications. In some cases, substandard materials are used. These practices significantly increase the risk of structural failure,” he stated.

Hart said the ministry will intensify inspections across Port Harcourt and urged developers to use qualified professionals and stick to approved designs.

“As long as developers follow approved plans, use quality materials, and employ qualified professionals, incidents like this can largely be avoided,” he added.

—Pattern of collapses raises the alarm—

The Odili Road incident comes barely two days after another building collapse in Iwofe, heightening concerns over enforcement of construction codes in Rivers State.

As of press time, rescue operations continued late into the day with responders searching for more victims feared trapped under the rubble.

Authorities have not released the identities of the dead or injured. Investigations into the structural failure are expected to follow once rescue operations end.