Panic and confusion erupted on Wednesday after a five-storey building under construction collapsed along Odili Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, trapping several construction workers beneath the rubble.

The building, located near the Eterna Filling Station on the busy Peter Odili Road axis, reportedly came crashing down unexpectedly while work was ongoing at the site, leaving workers and residents in shock.

Eyewitnesses said that several labourers were inside and around the structure when it suddenly gave way, raising fears that more victims may still be trapped beneath the debris.

One eyewitness said rescue operations commenced immediately after the collapse, with residents, emergency responders and security personnel joining efforts to save those trapped.

According to the witness, about seven persons were initially believed to have been trapped under the rubble.

“Three people have so far been rescued alive. Rescue teams are still searching for others who may be trapped beneath the collapsed structure,” the source said.

As of the time of filing this report, emergency workers were continuing intensive rescue operations at the site.

An excavator had been deployed to assist in removing concrete slabs and other debris to enable access to possible survivors.

Officials of the Rivers State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, alongside security operatives, including personnel of the police, were observed at the scene assessing the situation and coordinating rescue efforts.

The incident has heightened concerns over building safety and regulatory compliance in Rivers State, coming barely 48 hours after another building under construction collapsed on Slaughter Street in Rumuolumeni, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

In that incident, a three-storey structure reportedly caved in, prompting the Rivers State Government to seal off the site and launch investigations into the circumstances surrounding the collapse.

The recurrence of building failures within a short period has sparked fresh calls for stricter enforcement of construction standards, routine inspections and adherence to approved building plans across the state.

Residents and road users gathered around the Odili Road collapse site expressed concern over the rising incidence of structural failures, urging government agencies to intensify monitoring of construction projects to prevent further tragedies.

Meanwhile, rescue operations continued into the afternoon, with anxious relatives, co-workers and residents awaiting updates on the fate of those still feared trapped beneath the rubble.

Authorities have yet to officially confirm the number of casualties or persons trapped, while the exact cause of the collapse remains unknown.