Scores trapped as three-storey student hostel collapses in Anambra
Tragedy struck the academic community of Oko, Orumba North Local Government Area, in the early hours of Monday following the tragic collapse of Elite Five Star Lodge, a popular three-storey student hostel.
An unconfirmed number of occupants, mostly students, are currently feared trapped beneath the rubble as emergency responders and local volunteers mount desperate rescue efforts.
The facility, located adjacent to Tonimas Filling Station in the Amokpala area of Oko, gave way suddenly, sending shockwaves through the neighborhood.
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Eyewitnesses reported hearing a deafening crash before the entire structure crumbled into a heap of twisted iron and shattered concrete.
”We heard a very loud noise before the building collapsed. Within moments, the occupants inside started shouting frantically for help as the structure fell,” said Ifeoma, a local resident who witnessed the catastrophe unfold.
Panic swiftly enveloped the area as students, business owners, and residents rushed toward the site, immediately forming impromptu volunteer teams to clear debris and pull survivors from the wreckage prior to the arrival of official emergency units.
Emergency personnel—including teams from the Anambra State Fire Service, the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), security forces, and community members—are currently on-site executing search-and-rescue protocols. Heavy earth-moving equipment has been deployed to accelerate the extraction process.
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Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, stated that a police-led Joint Security Team responded immediately to secure the perimeter and coordinate rescue activities.
Several injured individuals have been successfully pulled from the rubble and rushed to a nearby hospital in Oko for urgent medical treatment.
Authorities are currently unable to verify the exact number of occupants trapped, injured, or deceased as rescue operations remain fluid.
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Rescuers are exercising extreme caution while clearing heavy concrete to prevent further injury to potential survivors.
In light of the ongoing operation, the Police Command has issued a strong plea to the public and the student body.
Curious onlookers are urged to maintain a safe distance to ensure unhindered access for heavy machinery and emergency vehicles.
Residents are advised against circulating unverified reports or speculative casualty figures on social media.
As of press time, tension remains high near the scene, with anxious relatives, classmates, and residents keeping vigil in hopes of recovering more survivors.
