Several persons are feared trapped after a Three-storey building collapsed in the Alakija area of Lagos State on Thursday.

According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred at about 11:40 a.m., sending residents and passersby into panic as the structure caved in.

The exact number of people trapped beneath the rubble could not be immediately ascertained as emergency responders mobilised to the scene.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed that rescue operations had been activated following distress calls received through its emergency channels.

Bystanders and anxious residents gathered around the collapsed building while awaiting the arrival of emergency personnel.

As of the time of filing this report, details regarding casualties and the cause of the collapse remained sketchy.

Director of Operations at LASEMA, Olatunde Akinsanya, said the agency promptly activated the state’s emergency response mechanism upon receiving reports of the incident.

“Following distress alerts received through the state’s 767 and 112 toll-free emergency lines, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency activated the state’s emergency response plans from its command and control centre,” Akinsanya said.

He added that emergency responders had been deployed to the scene to carry out search-and-rescue operations and assess the extent of the damage.

Further details are expected as rescue efforts continue.