Nigeria building collapse: Death toll rises to 17

By Rafiu Ajakaye

YOLA, Nigeria

Death toll from the building collapse in Nigeria’s southern city of Port Harcourt has climbed to 17, an official said on Wednesday, 10 days after the incident.

“At the moment, we have rescued 31 persons while 17 were pulled dead from the rubble. But the rescue operation is still ongoing,” Ejike Martins-Udeinya, the regional head of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), told Anadolu Agency.

Martins-Udeinya said many agencies are involved in the operation which has continued since the seven-story building collapsed on Nov. 23.

Government has arrested some contractors linked to the construction of the building over claims that they had used substandard materials.

Building collapse is a national phenomenon owing largely to poor adherence to the standards.