Emergency officials have confirmed the recovery of three bodies from the wreckage of the Great Nigeria Insurance building on Martin Street, three days after a devastating fire tore through the Lagos Island landmark.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) released a casualty report on Friday detailing the grim discovery. The deceased, identified as one adult female and two males, were pulled from the debris of the collapsed sections of the high-rise.
The incident has resulted in a significant number of injuries among both civilians and first responders. Eight males, including one firefighter, sustained varying degrees of injuries and were released after receiving treatment at the hospital. Additionally, three males and two females suffered minor injuries; they were administered first aid at the scene and subsequently released.
Despite the recovery of the three victims, the atmosphere at Lagos Island remains tense as the site remains an active rescue zone. LASEMA confirmed that search and rescue efforts are still ongoing to locate other victims reportedly trapped within the affected structure.
The operation is a massive inter-agency effort involving the LASEMA Response Teams, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Red Cross, and the Lagos State Government (LASG) Fire and Rescue Service. The cause of the fire and the subsequent structural failure are currently under investigation.
