At least two people have died and three others were injured after a three‑storey residential building collapsed in Amaokpala, a community in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, authorities said Monday. The structure, located in Oko community, served as off‑campus housing for students of the Federal Polytechnic Oko and other residents.
Ms. Ndidi Omega, acting executive secretary of the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, told the News Agency of Nigeria that rescue workers concluded operations late Monday after pulling victims from the rubble. She said emergency teams worked for hours to reach trapped occupants, navigating unstable debris and limited access points.
Survivors described a frantic scramble as the building gave way without warning. A female student who narrowly escaped said she had stepped outside moments before the collapse. “I heard a loud crack, then everything shook,” she said. “People were shouting from inside. If I had stayed in my room, I don’t think I’d be alive.” Another resident said he jumped from a balcony as the structure caved in, adding that several of his friends remained trapped until rescuers arrived.
The incident has shaken the Oko community, where many families are anxiously awaiting updates on the injured and calling for accountability. Omega said state authorities are assessing the cause of the collapse and reviewing nearby buildings for structural risks as part of broader efforts to prevent similar tragedies. She noted that the incident highlights the urgent need for stricter oversight of student hostels and privately built accommodations across the region.
