By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) on Tuesday averted what could have been a major disaster in Ifite area of Anambra State by evacuating occupants of a dangerously cracked two-storey building before pulling it down to prevent imminent collapse.

This demolition videos and photos which are currently trending on social media, shows the ACTDA enforcement team effecting and supervising the exercise, as heavy-duty caterpillar demolished the structure.

The timely intervention by the Authority is believed to have saved numerous lives and properties, as the building had reportedly developed visible structural defects and was on the verge of crumbling before ACTDA’s intervention.

Confirming the development in a short statement made available to journalists on Tuesday, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ACTDA, Hon. Ossy Onuko, described the operation as another demonstration of the state government’s commitment to safeguarding lives and promoting public safety.

He said: “The Authority first evacuated all occupants of the building and marked it for demolition after discovering signs of imminent structural defect, before proceeding to bring down the building in a controlled demolition to forestall any unexpected catastrophic incident.”