Five die, 10 injured as two building collapse in Kano

Five people, including four teenagers, have died while 10 others sustained injuries in two separate building collapses in Kano state on Saturday.

Saminu Abdullahi, public relations officer of the Kano State Fire Service, in a statement, said the incidents occurred at Gaida in Kumbotso LGA and Kurna in Fagge LGA, respectively.

Abdullahi said its emergency response unit received distress calls at about 2:34pm and 2:40pm respectively from Ahmad Sani and Umar Sani, both deputy superintendents of police, who reported the incidents.

At Gaida, near a filling station, an incomplete building under construction, measuring about 50 by 50 feet, collapsed while six workers were at the site.

Abdullahi said two of the workers, identified as Muhammad Hassan, 17, and Khalid Abubakar, 19, were rescued alive.

Four others, identified as Sunusi Surajo, 18; Bashir Ibrahim, 20; Ibrahim Ibrahim, 25; and Abubakar, 30, were rescued unconscious but later confirmed dead.

The six victims were evacuated to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital for medical attention and subsequently handed over to Adamu Garba, an inspector at the Kofar Wanbai police division.

In the second incident at Kurna, behind the primary school in Fagge LGA, an Islamic school building known as Khadija Idris Bala collapsed, trapping nine students.

The fire service said eight of the students were rescued alive. They were identified as Hassana Isah, 13; Usaina Isah, 13; Zulaihat M. Gambo, 13; Nawara Yahaya, 12; Nusaiba Isah, 12; Hasiya Munir, 12; Khadija Isah, 15; and Hadiza Haruna, 12.

The ninth victim, Khadija Muhammad, 14, was rescued unconscious but later confirmed dead.

The victims were subsequently handed over to the school’s headmaster, Muhammad Gambo Usman.

The fire service said the causes of the two building collapses were being investigated.

The agency urged building owners, contractors and construction workers to adhere strictly to safety precautions and approved building standards, particularly during the rainy season.

The fire service said compliance with safety regulations remained essential to reducing the risk of building collapses and protecting lives.