A three-storey building collapsed in Abuja on Saturday, reportedly leaving five people dead.

The building, behind Gudu Market, was under construction when it collapsed at 8:30 a.m., killing five people and injuring 11 others.

Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, mandate secretary at the Federal Capital Territory Health Services and Environment Secretariat, disclosed while visiting the site that the Minister of the FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, had ordered free medical treatment for the casualties.

Mrs Fasawe noted that rescue operations were still ongoing as emergency responders continued efforts to evacuate more victims believed to be trapped beneath the rubble.

The FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD), in a statement by the Head of Public Affairs, Mrs Nkechi Isa, said that its search and rescue team had so far rescued 16 people.

Mrs Isa said that 11 of the survivors had been taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, the Asokoro District Hospital, and the Maitama Hospital for treatment.

She added that most of the people trapped in the rubble were labourers, and that other emergency personnel, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Federal Fire Service, the FCT Fire Service, and the FCT police command, were still conducting search-and-rescue operations. 

(NAN)