LAGOS: A three-storey mostly residential building collapsed in Nigeria’s commercial hub Lagos on Monday, killing eight people and wounding 23, according to emergency services.

Building collapses are widespread in Africa’s most populous country, where millions of people live in decaying homes and construction rules are frequently ignored.

According to Ibrahim Farinloye of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the three-story structure fell late Sunday in the Ebute-Metta region of the huge city of over 20 million inhabitants.

“The incident happened around 9.30 pm. It was a three-storey building. The ground and first floors were used as warehouse while the second and third floors were residential,“ he said.

“We have recovered eight dead bodies while 23 others were rescued with various degrees of injuries. They are receiving treatment in the hospitals, “he said.

Rescue attempts at the location, according to Farinloye, are still underway.

“We have been working since last night to clear the rubble in search of more victims.”

He stated that an inquiry was underway to establish the reason for the country’s most recent collapse.

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