One of the survivors in the collapsed building incident at Ekhator Street, Ekosodin in Benin, Edo State, Dorcas Olushola, on Sunday, said her rescue from the rubble was “miraculous” and that she was lucky to be alive to tell her story.
Recounting her experience to Metro PUNCH at the Trauma Department of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital on Sunday, Olushola stated that the three-storey building started to vibrate and collapsed almost immediately while she was still trying to figure out what was happening.
Olushola, who is also a 300-level student of Social Work at the University of Benin, which borders Ekosodin, said she was on the second floor when the building eventually collapsed.
She said, “I am lucky to have been pulled out alive from the debris. It was raining heavily early that morning and I didn’t know that the compound was flooded because I was in my room on the second floor.
“All of a sudden, I started feeling the vibration of the building. As I was trying to find out what was happening, the building collapsed on me.
“I was rescued from the collapsed building by people. I am lucky to be alive and I thank God for that. I also thank those who rescued me, without them I would have been dead by now.
“I suffered some bruises on my leg but beyond that I am fine. However, the experience was traumatising. I commend the staff members of UBTH as I am currently responding to treatment.
She stated that her father had travelled out of the state and that he was still being expected back in Benin.
Another survivor, Akpodeh Oseoghene, who just graduated from UNIBEN from the Science Laboratory Department, said she saw death but was grateful to God for sparing her life in the disaster.
She stated that trouble started when the room she shared with another student, Akpordoghor Oghenefega, in the bungalow behind the main building, became flooded that Saturday morning.
She said, “During the rain, our room became flooded to our surprise and the first thing we did was to try and put our belongings on a higher platform but while doing that, the main building collapsed and it affected the bungalow. That brought more water into our room and the glass door got broken and injured my roommate, who is also receiving treatment at another department at UBTH.
“We saw a little opening and that was where we passed through to safety. The flood might have caused the building to collapse. It was so much. We were even trying to scoop the water out when the main building collapsed.
“The fourth person, Leonard, got injured when he jumped from the third floor as the building was about to collapse. He is also at the UBTH receiving treatment.
He sustained the worst injury out of the four of us involved in the incident.
A fresh graduate of UNIBEN who lived in the next building said the incident happened between 7.30 and 8 am while it was raining, saying the flooding of the area might have led to the collapse.
He said, “The rain started around 4 am and it became intense at about 7 am. The whole street was flooded and affected some of the houses especially those whose foundation was not high.
“My house was also flooded and we locked our gate but the flood pulled it down and the water came into our rooms. While we were trying to salvage our belongings, I heard a loud noise only to find out that the building had collapsed, damaging our fence and a room.
“The road is not even passable and it was always flooded but the one on Saturday was the most devastating. I hope the authorities will find a solution to it.’
The Edo State Government said an investigation was ongoing to determine why the building collapsed early on Saturday
The Special Adviser to the Edo State governor on Media Project, Crusoe Obaseki, who stated this in a statement, said that the state government had stationed officials at the site to provide an update on the incident.
He said, “The Edo State Government confirms the collapse of a three-storey building in Ekhator Street, off Ekosodin Road beside the University of Benin, Ugbowo, Benin City.
“A rescue team was deployed to the site of the incident and all the trapped students have been rescued alive and are receiving medical attention.
“Emergency Responders including the Edo State Fire Service and officials from the Edo State Command and Control Centre deployed to the scene of the accident have confirmed that there are no fatalities from the incident as at this time.
“Excavators and other heavy equipment are on site to clear the rubble and also remove the other parts of the distressed building.
“The government has ordered a full investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the collapse as well as an audit of other buildings in the area to ascertain their status.
On Sunday, Metro PUNCH observed that the compound had been sealed by the state government who said investigation was ongoing to know the cause of the collapse.
