Dozen people are feared killed and many others trapped as Abuja two-storey building collapsed amidst heavy downpour on Wednesday night.
However, 37 people have been rescued from the rubbles and two others feared dead as of Thursday morning.
The building is located at the busy Lagos Street in Garki Abuja.
An eyewitness, Tanko Dabo, who was at the scene after the incident said the building is housing many apartments, while the ground floor was full of shops.
He said the building collapsed during the heavy downpour which started around 11pm on Wednesday.
”There was wailing all over the place after the building collapsed. Dozens of people are either dead or trapped as the building is fully occupied.
“It was a scene of helplessness with people screaming and going helter-skelter, while the heavy rain continues,” he said.
Lagos Street in Garki is one of the popular area with night life. The street, dotted eateries and bars, is busy throughout the night.
Mr Dabo said dozen people who sleep at ground floor of the building are either trapped or dead.
The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FCT FEMA) spokesperson, Mrs Nkechi Isa, said in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, that 37 persons were rescued alive, while two others were fatally injured.
Isa said that a rescue operation was ongoing to search for more victims.
She added that a combined team of the FCT FEMA, Federal Road Safety Corps and FCT Command of the Nigerian Police were on ground to rescue and evacuate victims.
“The two-storey building, which serves both residential and commercial purposes collapsed on Wednesday night.
“FCT FEMA Search and Rescue Team are awaiting excavators to intensify the search to ensure that no victim is left in the rubble of the collapsed building,” she said.
