In a tragic incident at the Oduigbo section of Ochanja Market in Onitsha South Local Government Area, five individuals lost their lives due to a building collapse.
The disaster occurred when three of the five buildings under construction at the market collapsed on Monday evening, trapping several people beneath the debris.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State personally visited the scene to express his condolences to the victims and their families.
Visibly emotional, Soludo promised assistance to those affected by the mishap.
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He stated that such incidents highlighted the need to curb impunity and cautioned against unauthorized construction.
The Governor also addressed the issue of building approvals, stressing that no shop should be erected without proper authorization from the Physical Planning Board.
In response to the contractor’s negligence, the Governor vowed that the rubble would be cleared at the contractor’s expense, and legal consequences would follow.
To prevent similar tragedies, the administration plans to take inventory of all markets in the state and demolish any ongoing illegal structures.
Meanwhile, emergency responders continue their efforts to rescue those still trapped under the debris, while survivors receive urgent medical attention at nearby hospitals.
