Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria – Rescue agencies continued emergency operations on Wednesday after a three-storey building under construction collapsed along Peter Odili Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, leaving one person feared dead and several others trapped beneath the debris.
The cause of the collapse had not been officially established as of press time, although eyewitnesses suggested structural defects may have contributed to the incident.
Emergency responders recovered the body of an unidentified victim from the rubble while search teams intensified efforts to locate additional victims.
The rescue operation involves personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Rivers State Government.
A survivor identified as Taiwo said several workers were inside the building when it suddenly collapsed.
“My brother was among those inside. Four people have been rescued so far, but others are still trapped,” he said.
Officials from the Rivers State Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning and the Ministry of Health were also present at the scene coordinating emergency interventions.
Dr. Vincent Wachukwu, Acting Permanent Secretary and Director of Medical Services, said medical teams and ambulances were immediately deployed after authorities received reports of the incident.
He confirmed that rescued victims had been transferred to the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital for treatment.
Hospital emergency units have also been placed on alert as rescue operations continue.
Authorities have yet to determine the exact number of people trapped beneath the collapsed structure.
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