One person reportedly died, three others were rescued and several sustained injuries as rescue operations intensified yesterday following the collapse of a five-storey building under construction along Dr Peter Odili Road, near Eterna Filling Station, in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The structure collapsed at about 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, trapping an unspecified number of construction workers and leaving residents of the state capital in shock.

The Guardian learnt that the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) had approved a three-storey structure for the site. However, the developer allegedly commenced the construction of a five-storey building, a development believed to have contributed to the collapse.

It was also learnt that during an earlier inspection of the site by state government officials, the engineer supervising the project was directed to halt construction after irregularities were observed. However, the directive was allegedly ignored, and work continued.

According to experts, a preliminary visual assessment of the collapsed structure indicated the use of substandard materials, including poor-quality concrete, cement and reinforcing rods.

Meanwhile, the state government has ordered a thorough investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the incident.

While Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, other construction firms and government agencies continued to support rescue efforts, the deceased, said to be a member of the host community, was deposited in a morgue.

As of press time, rescue operations were still ongoing, with Julius Berger and other agencies maintaining coordinated efforts to locate any remaining victims.

The incident occurred less than 24 hours after another building collapse in the city, further raising concerns about construction safety standards.

Eyewitnesses said several labourers were working in and around the building when it suddenly gave way.

Early estimates indicated that at least seven persons were trapped beneath the rubble. Rescue efforts commenced immediately, with local residents, emergency responders and security personnel working together to reach victims buried under the debris.

By Wednesday evening, three persons had been rescued alive, while intensive search efforts continued to locate others.

Julius Berger Nigeria Plc played a critical role in the rescue operation, deploying a range of heavy-duty and specialised equipment. These included excavators for debris removal, mobile cranes for lifting heavy concrete slabs, wheel loaders for clearing rubble, and dump trucks for transporting debris from the site. The company also provided cutting and breaking equipment, including hydraulic breakers and concrete cutters, to carefully dismantle sections of the collapsed structure.

Meanwhile, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara ordered the immediate closure of the site.

The governor, who visited the scene yesterday to assess the situation, said the site would remain sealed pending the outcome of a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the collapse.

Describing the incident as unfortunate, Fubara disclosed that preliminary findings indicated that the developer had repeatedly resisted inspections by relevant state authorities and failed to comply with established building regulations.

The governor, accompanied by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Amairigha Edward Hart, and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties, Dabite Sokari George, explained that he delayed his visit until he had received a formal briefing from the relevant government agencies.

“We are here to see for ourselves this very unfortunate incident. I did not come yesterday because I wanted to first receive a report. The commissioner informed me that the site, contrary to the developer’s claim, falls under the jurisdiction of the Federal Housing Authority.

“He also informed me that officials visited the site several times during construction to monitor compliance and inspect ongoing work. Unfortunately, the developer consistently maintained that the state government had no authority to interfere,” Fubara said.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Onwuka Nzeshi, the governor stressed that the focus was no longer on issues of jurisdiction but on the loss of life and the impact of the tragedy on the affected families.

He extended condolences to the families of the victims and maintained that the disaster could have been been avoided if the developer had adhered to approved engineering standards and construction guidelines.

“We feel very sorry and deeply regret that such an incident should occur in the 21st century, when technology and engineering practices have advanced significantly. I wonder what kind of engineer would allow a project with such fundamental flaws to continue from inception.

“Nothing is going to happen on this site anymore. We will ensure that it remains completely sealed until we determine the root cause of this incident,” the governor stated.