A typical morning turned into a nightmare in north-central Nigeria when the Saints Academy college in Plateau state’s Busa Buji community collapsed during classes on Friday. The two-story building fell apart, killing 22 students and setting off a frantic rescue operation for over a hundred others trapped in the debris.
Several people were presumably killed when a school building collapsed in Plateau state, Nigeria, according to local media
There may be many students under the rubble, local media reported.
According to reports, Saint Academy School collapsed around 8:30 am while many students… pic.twitter.com/PTfMJyLA27
— Emeka Gift Official (@EmekaGift100) July 12, 2024
The collapse happened just as students, mostly 15 years old or younger, were settling into their day. Initial reports indicated that 154 students were caught under the rubble. In a dramatic and desperate rescue effort, 132 students were pulled out alive, now receiving treatment in various hospitals. Plateau police spokesman Alfred Alabo confirmed the death toll, revising earlier, less dire figures reported by local media.
The scene around the collapsed school was one of chaos and heartache. Villagers gathered in disbelief, some sobbing uncontrollably, others rushing to help. The atmosphere was charged with grief, punctuated by the wails of a woman desperately trying to reach the rubble, only to be held back by others.
BREAKING: At least 16 students were KILLED on Friday when a school in Nigeria’s Plateau State COLLAPSED while students were taking exams.
More confirmation of Hanke’s School Boy’s Theory of History: It’s just one damn thing after another.pic.twitter.com/RKKNIhGKSA
— Steve Hanke (@steve_hanke) July 12, 2024
Rescue workers, health professionals, and security forces, dispatched by Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency, descended on the site, their efforts a beacon of hope amid the ruins. The government ordered hospitals to prioritize the treatment of the injured students, bypassing usual protocols and paperwork.
In a solemn statement, Plateau state’s Commissioner for Information, Musa Ashoms, emphasized the urgent need for medical attention. He attributed the tragedy to the school’s weak structure and its precarious location near a riverbank. The government has called for the closure of other schools with similar vulnerabilities to prevent future disasters.
A two-storey building housing a school collapsed in Nigeria’s central Plateau state killing at least 16 students.
The premises that housed the school are crowded, with parents frantically looking for their children and rescue workers racing to save those trapped. pic.twitter.com/2Z91irrLD4
— BBC News Africa (@BBCAfrica) July 12, 2024
This heartbreaking incident is not isolated. Building collapses have become alarmingly frequent in Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa, with more than a dozen such incidents in the past two years. These tragedies are often blamed on the lack of enforcement of building safety regulations and poor maintenance, issues that continue to put lives at risk.
Major Points
- A school building in north-central Nigeria collapsed during classes, killing 22 students.
- Initially, 154 students were trapped; 132 were rescued and hospitalized.
- The scene was chaotic, with villagers weeping and offering help during rescue efforts.
- The collapse was attributed to structural weaknesses and the school’s location near a riverbank.
- Building collapses are frequent in Nigeria, often due to poor regulation enforcement and maintenance issues.
Kirk Volo – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
