Two persons have been confirmed dead, while three others were rescued after a three-storey hostel building, known as Elite Five Star Lodge, collapsed in Amaokpala, near the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The building, which had about 60 rooms, caved in on Sunday night, throwing residents and passers-by into panic as an unknown number of occupants, mostly students, were trapped beneath the rubble for hours before emergency responders arrived.
Eyewitnesses said the building collapsed while occupants were inside.
One resident, Ifeoma, who witnessed the incident, told PUNCH Metro that a loud noise preceded the collapse.
“We heard a very loud noise before the building collapsed. The noise attracted many residents and students, who rushed to the area to see what had happened.
