13 Pulled From Rubble, 16 Injured as Building Collapses in Kano
By Victor Idajil
Panic gripped residents of Dan Dishe, Kwanar Yashi in Fagge Local Government Area of Kano State in the early hours of Saturday after a residential building collapsed, trapping occupants inside.
The Kano State Fire Service confirmed that 13 people were rescued and 16 others sustained injuries in the incident.
According to the Service’s Public Relations Officer, Saminu Abdullahi, the Emergency Response Unit got a distress call at about 4:32am and immediately mobilised personnel from headquarters to the scene.
“Upon receiving the report, men of the Service from the Headquarters were immediately mobilised to the scene. On arrival, they discovered that a residential building of about 20 by 30 feet had collapsed,” Abdullahi said in a statement released on Saturday.
Rescue teams recovered 13 people from the debris. Ten were found alive, while three were unconscious.
The survivors identified alive are Al-Mustapha Yusuf, 15; Khadija Yusuf, 7; Ummusalama Yusuf, 10; Madina Yusuf, 6; and Hafsat Yusuf, 9.
The unconscious victims were named as Affan Yusuf, 5; Hassana Yusuf, 7; and Ummulkursum Yusuf, 9 months old.
Eight other survivors could not be immediately identified.
All the victims were later handed over to Usman Ibrahim, said to be their uncle, for medical care. The Fire Service put the total number of injured at 16.
Authorities said the cause of the collapse is yet to be determined and that investigations are ongoing.
The Fire Service urged residents to be cautious, especially during the rainy season, and to report any signs of structural weakness to the appropriate authorities to avoid a repeat.
“The Kano State Fire Service urges members of the public to observe all necessary safety precautions, particularly during the rainy season, to prevent similar incidents,” the statement added.
