By PHILIP YATAI

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has ordered free medical treatment for casualties from a three-storey building that collapsed in Abuja on Saturday, leaving five people dead.

Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, Mandate Secretary, FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat disclosed this when she visited the site.

Fasawe noted that rescue operations were still ongoing as emergency responders continued efforts to evacuate more victims believed to be trapped beneath the rubbles.

One of the victims, who was pulled out alive after spending more than nine hours trapped under the debris, was personally attended to by Fasawe before he was moved to the hospital for further treatment.

The FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD), had said in a statement that the building, behind Gudu Market was under construction when it collapsed at 8:30 a.m., killing five persons while 11 others sustained injuries.

FEMD, in the statement signed by the department’s Head of Public Affairs, Mrs Nkechi Isa, said that its search and rescue team had so far rescued 16 persons.

It added that 11 of the survivors have been taken to the Federal Medical Center Abuja, Asokoro District Hospital and Maitama Hospital for treatment.

The department added that most of the persons trapped in the rubbles were labourers.

It said that other emergency personnel, including the National Emergency Management Agency, Federal Fire Service, FCT Fire Service, FCT Police Command were still carrying out search and rescue while anxious residents looked on.

“Also at the scene were personnel of the Nigerian Army, Federal Road Safety Corps, FCT Emergency Medical Services, and health officers from Wuse District Hospital,” it said. (NAN)

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