A three storey building collapsed in the early hours of Wednesday, at Azikiwe Road, Aba, Abia State killing two persons on the spot, as five others were trapped.
However, another victim was miraculously rescued and sent to an undisclosed hospital in the city.
According to report, the deceased and the survivor of the collapsed building were destitute who usually took refuge in the building and were there when the structure crashed.
When news men visited the scene, no excavator or other earthmoving equipment was seen on the ground to help in the rescue efforts, but sympathisers managed to wade in through some open parts of the collapsed building to rescue the survivor.
Unfortunately, the volunteers and sympathisers who were trying to assist in the rescue efforts were attacked by some hoodlums who accused them of taking undue advantage of the situation.
They also harassed those taking pictures with their phones.
A shop owner in the area said the building was still under construction, adding that the traders around there had a clue that it would go down the next day.
“The building was still standing when I closed for business yesterday (Tuesday).
“Construction work was, at that time going on, but when I came back this morning (Wednesday), the building had collapsed.
“We were told that two persons were confirmed dead, one rescued and taken to hospital, and that five persons are still trapped in the building.”
However, most people attributed the cause of the collapse to use of inferior materials by the contractor.
Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Geoffrey Ogbonna, said his men were waiting for the arrival of an excavator in order to rescue those still trapped in the rubble.
tv90gk