Posted by By HENRY CHUKWURAH, Port Harcourt on
The Rivers State Government has ordered immediate suspension of construction of high-rise buildings in the state.
The Rivers State Government has ordered immediate suspension of construction of high-rise buildings in the state.
This followed the collapse of a high-rise building in Port Harcourt Tuesday in which no fewer than 20 persons were feared dead.
Ironically, a nearby high-rise building also under construction is on the verge of caving in.
Giving the order Wednesday at the scene of the tragedy, the state Commissioner for Urban Development, Mr. Tele Ikuru, said the measure was aimed at stemming a recurrence. He hinted also that the government had ordered an immediate probe of the incident.
He said that law enforcement agents had also been sent after the site engineer and the unknown owner of the structure, adding that culprits, "no matter how highly placed" would be made to face the wrath of the law.
The commissioner said also that preliminary investigations revealed a violation of the initial building plan.
Nearby residents told Daily Sun that the left wing went down at about 8 am while the right wing followed about one hour later. Already, the state government has mobilized construction giants, Julius Berger, to bring down the entire structure and begin excavation, with a view to rescuing any of those trapped inside who may still be alive.
There were indications that no fewer than 15 persons may have been buried in the wreckage. They include labourers, a female food-seller and her daughter.
Meanwhile, Red Cross Officials have moved to the scene of the tragedy.
Leading a 25-member emergency team, the state secretary of the humanitarian organization, Mr. Napoleon Hezekiah, said no efforts would be spared to assist those in dire need.
Hezekiah confirmed allegations by residents of the area that neither the site engineer nor the owner of the building, whose construction began a few months ago, had been seen.