ABUJA, May 17 (Xinhua) -- At least five bodies were recovered after a three-story building under construction collapsed in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, on Saturday, officials said.
Ten other people trapped under the debris were rescued and taken to the hospital following the incident near the Gudu district on Saturday morning, Adedolapo Fasawe, mandate secretary for health services in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), told media.
According to Fasawe, the building collapsed during construction, trapping mainly construction workers.
She said rescue operations were continuing amid concerns that more people could still be trapped under the rubble.
Fasawe added that Nyesom Wike, minister of the FCT, had directed that all injured victims receive free medical treatment, while emergency response measures had been activated.
Building collapses occur frequently in Nigeria, with experts often attributing them to ageing structures, violations of building regulations and the use of substandard construction materials. ■
