A tragic incident occurred in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Wednesday after a five-storey building under construction collapsed, trapping no fewer than 16 persons, including a site engineer, beneath the rubble.

Eyewitnesses said the building caved in at about 9 a.m., causing panic among residents and workers in the area.

According to sources, several construction workers and the site engineer were on the premises when the structure suddenly collapsed, burying them under the debris.

Rescue efforts commenced immediately, with emergency responders, security agencies and local residents working to reach those trapped beneath the wreckage.

The exact cause of the collapse could not be immediately ascertained, while the number of casualties and survivors remained unclear as of the time of filing this report.

Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with anxious relatives and onlookers gathering around the site as rescue operations continued.

Officials are yet to release an official statement on the incident. Further details are expected as rescue efforts progress. (Vanguard)