Anambra State Building Collapse Claims Lives of Mother, Daughter

A tragic incident occurred in Anata Anaba, Okpoko, Ogbaru Local Government Area, Anambra State, where a three-storey building under construction collapsed, resulting in the deaths of a mother and her 14-year-old daughter. The collapse happened around 9:45 pm on Wednesday, trapping the victims in their apartment in a nearby bungalow.

Eyewitnesses reported hearing loud cracking noises before the building fell, causing panic among residents. Some individuals trapped in the rubble were rescued and taken to the hospital.

Residents had previously expressed concerns about the building's safety, citing the waterlogged land as unsuitable for such a structure. They claimed that the initial engineer advised limiting the building to two floors, but this recommendation was ignored.

Chijioke Ojukwu, the state Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, confirmed the incident, attributing the collapse to substandard materials and negligence. He stated that the building was illegal, a stop-work notice had been issued, and investigations into other unapproved constructions in the area would follow.