No fewer than four people died and about 80 others were still trapped under rubble when an unfinished building collapsed in southwestern Iran, officials have confirmed.
‘Parts of the 10-story Metropol building, located in Abadan, capital of Khuzestan province, collapsed,’ state television said in a broadcast which was monitored by Africa Today News, New York, pointing out that the premises were still under construction.
An initial toll which was taken by authorities confirmed that at least “four people have lost their lives and 21 others have been injured,” Mojtaba Khaledi, spokesman for the national rescue service, was quoted as saying.
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At least 80 people were trapped under the rubble and rescue dogs were deployed to help locate them, according to a regional branch of the Red Crescent.
The building is located on Abadan’s busiest street where “commercial, medical and office” buildings predominate, according to state television.
The cause of the collapse was under investigation.
In a related development, a three-storey building located at 4, Alayaki Lane, Lagos Island, collapsed in Lagos on Saturday during heavy rainfall, which left no fewer than two persons.
According to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, an unconfirmed number of people were still trapped under the rubble.
‘The Agency responded to the above incident which was already in violation of building safety protocols,’ a statement signed by LASEMA’s Director-General, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said.
‘It was discovered that the building had been captured by the LASBCA District Office and served with all Statutory Notices, Sealed at District and Central Enforcement Level.
‘Further investigation determined that the developer had continued clandestine operations mostly at night and at the weekends.
‘An unconfirmed number of people are still trapped inside the building. Two people have been rescued alive while another was recovered dead. Search and Rescue operations ongoing. Further updates to follow.’
Building collapse is not uncommon in Lagos due to lax regulatory oversight and sharp practices by developers.
In November a high-rise block of luxury flats under construction collapsed in the Ikoyi area of the state, killing at least 40 people.