Many escape death as three-storey building collapses in Umuahia

Many escaped death when a three-storey residential building collapsed in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.

According to report, the ugly incident happened at No. 86 Nkwere Street off Umuchu Road in Umuahia North Local Government Area.

But no life was lost, occupants of the building at the time of filing the report were said to have lost valuables in an incident that left many stranded and homeless.

Occupants and many who spoke with newsmen blamed poor and substandard building materials used by the contractor.

Occupants, said that they noticed some cracks on the wall of the building 24 hours before the incident but never thought it was a major fault.

Adding that, by the time they woke up the next day, they noticed the pillar of the house leading to the staircase had cracked while the iron used in erecting the pillar had already bent.

They said that the faulty pillar led them to go round the building to discover that some parts had started caving into the ground.

The tenants said that it was scary that they started moving their properties from their flats.

“some of the co-tenants could not finish moving out their properties before the building finally collapsed.

He said while the situation has left them homeless, they were happy that no life was lost.

While appealing to the state government to come to their aids as they lack financial Capacity in renting a new apartment in the face of the financial challenges of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.