Scores of students killed, more than 100 trapped after school collapses in Nigeria
Dozens of villagers gathered near the school, some crying and others ready to help, as excavators dug through the rubble.
Abuja, Nigeria: A tragedy struck north-central Nigeria on Friday morning when a two-storey school building collapsed during classes, trapping around 120 students and teachers. The search for survivors in the debris is ongoing. According to a local television station, 12 people have died so far.
Officials are yet to confirm the exact death toll at Saints Academy College in Busa Buji community in Plateau State. However, Channels Television said 26 people are currently receiving treatment, based on a witness at a nearby hospital. Rescue operations are underway as officials and volunteers work to locate and help those trapped.
Nigeria's National Emergency Management Agency said rescue and health workers as well as security forces had been deployed to the scene. It said “several students” were killed.
“Approximately 120 people were trapped, many were evacuated,” Information Plateau Commissioner Musa Ashoms said in a statement. “To ensure prompt medical assistance, the government has directed hospitals to prioritize treatment without documents or payment.”
The state government attributed the tragedy to the school's “weak structure and proximity to the riverbank”, and called for the closure of other schools with similar problems.
Dozens of villagers gathered near the school, some crying and others ready to help, as excavators dug through the rubble. A woman was seen crying and trying to approach the rubble as others held her back.
Building collapse has become a serious problem in Nigeria, with dozens of incidents reported in the past two years. Recent examples include the collapse of a school building in Plateau State, which led to the tragic death of several students. Officials often attribute these disasters to poor enforcement of building safety regulations and poor maintenance practices. This ongoing problem highlights the urgent need for stricter regulations and better monitoring to prevent further tragedies.
(with AP input)
