By BOSEDE OLUFUNMI

The Kano State Fire Service has confirmed that no fewer than five people died and 11 others were rescued following the collapse of two buildings under construction.

The service said the dual tragic incidents occurred at Gaida in Kumbotso Local Government Area and Kurna in Fagge Local Government Area.

The Service’s Director, Alhaji Sani Anas, disclosed this in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Saminu Abdullahi, on Sunday in Kano.

He confirmed that the incidents occurred on Saturday afternoon.

“We received a distress call at about 2:34 p.m. from Deputy Superintendent of Police, Ahmed Sani, that a building has collapsed.

“Upon receiving the report, we immediately deployed personnel to the scene.

“The building is about 50 feet by 50 feet. Six workers were trapped in the building.

“Out of the six workers, two were rescued alive: Muhammad Hassan, 17, and Khalid Abubakar, 19,” the director said.

He said the remaining four victims were rescued unconscious and conveyed to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, where they were later confirmed dead by doctors on duty.

Anas added that the deceased were identified as Sunusi Siraju, 18; Bashir Ibrahim, 20; Ibrahim, 26; and Abubakar, 30.

The director said the bodies were handed over to Inspector Adamu Garba of the Kofar Wambai Police Division.

He said the cause of the building collapse was under investigation.

Similarly, an Islamiyya school building known as “Khalid Idris Bala” collapsed at Kurna, behind a primary school in Fagge local government area.

He said: “We received a distress call at about 2:40 p.m. from Umar Sani that an Islamiyya school building had collapsed.

“Upon receiving the report, we immediately mobilised our personnel to the scene.

“Eight students were rescued alive, while one was rescued unconscious and later confirmed dead,” he revealed.

He said the deceased was identified as Khadija Muhammad, 14, while the survivors were identified as Hassana Issa, Usaina Issa and Zuleyhat M. Gambu, all 13.

Others according to him, are Nawara Yahya, Nuseiba Issa and Hasia Munir, all 12; Khadija Issa, 15; and Hadiza Haruna, 12.

Anas said the victims were subsequently handed over to the school’s headmaster, Muhammad Gambu-Usman.

The director said the cause of the building collapse was being investigated.

He urged building owners, contractors and construction workers to observe necessary safety precautions and always comply with approved building standards to minimise the risk of building collapses. (NAN, excluding headline)