Two people lost their lives in separate incidents in Lagos State. One died in a truck crash at night, and the other in a building collapse, according to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).
The truck accident took place at about 10:40 p.m. on Thursday along Old Abeokuta Road, heading toward Abattoir.
A large truck carrying a 40-foot container reportedly lost its brakes while going downhill, lost control, and crashed head-on into a Toyota Highlander SUV.
Emergency responders pulled the driver from the wreck. He had serious fractures in both legs and his left arm, and later died from his injuries. The two other people in the SUV were not hurt.
On Friday, a separate incident occurred when a three-storey building under construction partially collapsed at No. 1 Josephine Fingesi Street, off Wole Olateju Street in Lekki Phase 1. Nine people were trapped in the collapse.
Seven adult men were rescued and treated at the scene. One person was confirmed dead, and another is still missing.
Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, said that search and rescue operations are still ongoing.
Teams from the Lagos State Building Control Agency, the Fire and Rescue Service, and other emergency groups are working together.
“Our main focus remains saving lives. We are working methodically and in partnership with relevant agencies to ensure no victim is left behind,” he said.
These two tragedies highlight ongoing safety problems in Lagos.
Accidents with heavy trucks and repeated building collapses keep happening, taking lives even though there have been many warnings and efforts to enforce safety rules.
