At least eight people are feared dead after a one-storey building collapsed in the Kuntau area of Gwale Local Government, Kano State, early Friday morning.
Witnesses reported that around 15 individuals, including the building owner, were trapped when the structure gave way. The owner, known as Sharu, was constructing the new addition to his existing home. Some of those trapped were passersby seeking shelter from the rain.
Upon hearing the news, Sharu’s wife rushed to the scene, crying for help. Neighbors and passersby quickly mobilized to rescue those trapped under the rubble. Seven individuals were rushed to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, where one person died en route.
READ ALSO: Anglican Diocese Launches Investigation into Onitsha Building Collapse
A Kano Fire Service official confirmed that 15 people were trapped, with seven fatalities reported. Buses from the Fire Service and police personnel from the Dorayi Division were on the scene to ensure no one remained trapped and to investigate further.
Preliminary reports suggest the collapse was due to substandard building materials. Efforts to reach the Kano State Fire Service’s public relations officer for more information were unsuccessful.