A tragic incident occurred on Monday night when a four-storey building attached to the Westbrook Hotel in the Garki area of the Federal Capital Territory collapsed, trapping many people inside. The hotel is reportedly owned by a former governor from a state in the South East region.
According to an eyewitness who spoke to PUNCH Online under the condition of anonymity, there is a significant possibility of casualties. "There could be some people inside the collapsed building who may have died," the eyewitness reported. "I saw two people being pulled out from the rubble now and taken to the hospital while rescue operations are ongoing. The emergency responders are not coordinated yet for efficient operations."
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The eyewitness account highlights the chaos and urgency of the situation, with rescue teams struggling to organize an effective response. As of now, the exact number of people trapped inside the building remains unknown.
This incident adds to a series of tragic events in Abuja, highlighting ongoing safety concerns. In recent weeks, there have been several high-profile violent incidents in hotels around the city, including the stabbing of a lady in a separate Abuja hotel, the death of a sex worker in another hotel incident, and the killing of a DJ during a robbery.
The collapse of the building has once again raised alarms about building safety standards and the efficiency of emergency response mechanisms in the city.
As rescue operations continue, authorities and emergency services are urged to expedite their efforts to save as many lives as possible. More details will be provided as the situation develops.