SCOAN: WOMAN BURIED FOR 4 DAYS SURVIVES BUILDING COLLAPSE

Rescue workers, residents and others at the site of a collapsed six-storey structure belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nations were on Tuesday excited by the rescue of a woman four days after the incident occurred.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the 45-year-old unnamed woman was sighted around 2am as the rescue operation progressed. It was said that the woman, who had been buried in the rubble since Friday, walked out as soon as the hindrances on her were removed.

Eyewitnesses said the woman came out thanking God and shouting hallelujah.

One of the eyewitnesses, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent that the latest survivor sustained minor injuries.

He said, “It was a miracle because nobody was expecting to rescue anybody alive. But immediately she came out, SCOAN members immediately took over things and took her away. Nobody here can say exactly where the woman is.”

When our correspondent sought information from SCOAN, one of its officials promised to provide him an update on the female survivor. However, he had yet to do so when our correspondent left the church premises at about 4.15pm on Tuesday.

But a foreign worker in the church told our correspondent to rejoice with them instead of asking questions.

She said, “It is indeed a miracle that someone could survive under that rubble for four days. We thank God for that and that is all we can say for now. If we have further developments, we will definitely let you know.”

Spokesman of the Nigerian Emergency Management Agency, Ibrahim Farinloye, said the woman was lucky to be alive.

Farinloye told PUNCH Metro that rescue workers had previously given up hopes of finding any more survivor from the rubble.

He said, “The survivor is hale and hearty, although she was traumatised. She sustained some injuries on her ankle and wrist. We did not allow her to talk; we just allowed her to be taken away for medical attention.

Farinloye added that with the rescue of the woman, workers have evacuated 131 people from the collapsed structure, while 61 dead bodies had also been taken out.