Many Trapped As Former Hotel Collapses In Abuja

Residential building, formerly Al-Hilal Hotel in Abuja’s Kubwa area, partially collapses, trapping residents; emergency response delayed by equipment shortage.

Eko Hot Blog reports that in Abuja, a former hotel transformed into residential apartments, adjacent to the well-known Cupid Hotel on Cupid Road (Sultan Dasuki Way) in Kubwa, suffered a partial collapse early Saturday morning, trapping multiple residents beneath the rubble.

Originally known as the Al-Hilal Hotel and subsequently used as a hospital before being repurposed into residential units, the building has housed occupants since the hospital relocated.

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According to reports from Vanguard, the incident occurred at approximately 6:30 am. Emergency responders and security personnel swiftly arrived at the scene, but rescue efforts were hindered initially by the lack of necessary equipment. As of 8:45 am, essential cranes required to lift the heavy debris had not yet arrived, resulting in delays in reaching individuals still trapped inside.

Despite the challenges, two individuals were successfully rescued and promptly transported to a nearby medical facility. Some residents managed to escape independently from the collapsing structure.

An escapee, who preferred to remain anonymous, reported that she sensed danger when she heard cracking sounds around 7 am and swiftly exited the building.

This online media platform understand that the building collapse comes hours after Saints Academy, a secondary school in Jos, collapsed while students were writing their third term examination.