The Southwest Coordinator of National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye has disclosed that five people have been rescued alive while four dead bodies were recovered from the debris of the 21-storey building that collapsed on Gerald road, Ikoyi, Lagos yesterday.

Farinloye told Vanguard that the rescue operation is still in progress as they are getting closer to where some of the construction workers are being trapped.

However, he couldn’t ascertain the total number of casualties as well as the number of persons still trapped in the building.

One the victims, Mayowa Sunday was recued by emergency responders around 11pm on Monday.

Wisdom John, 28, a bricklayer, said he escaped with just a few cuts because he had been on the ground floor when the building collapsed into a pile of concrete, its floors sandwiched together.

He disclosed that over 50 workers were in the building, including the manager.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari, in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Femi Adesina, condoled with the families of those who died in the incident.

“President Buhari shares the sad moment with people and Government of Lagos State, urging authorities to step up efforts in rescue operations, while emergency institutions, including hospitals, should provide all the necessary support to safeguard lives of the rescued.

“The President prays for God’s intervention in the ongoing rescue operations”, the statement reads.