BY MIKE OSAROGIAGBON
A three-storey building under construction has collapsed killing one person and injuring three others in Benin City, yesterday.
Among the survivours is one Sunday Oniovosa who claimed to have recently graduated from the department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Benin, UNIBEN, Benin City.
The tragedy occurred on Sapale Road, opposite NNPC maga filling station in the state capital.
It was gathered that ?the incident occurred at about 10:30am.
SUNDAY OBSERVER gathered that the victims were pouring concrete on a cantilever projection on the third floor, when the formwork caved probably due to support failure during concrete placement.
It was further scooped that the deceased labourer, identified as Michael Mathew, and his colleagues fell from the third floor to the ground where a plank pierced his chest.
He was said to have been rushed to the Central Hospital in Benin, where he was confirmed dead.
The survivours told our reporter who visited the male Orthopaedic ward of the Central hospital, Benin that they were hired by a contractor to do the two-day job at N3, 000 each, per day.
“Some of the blocks that fell prevented the planks on the ground from harming us; I was lucky. But in the boy’s case, there was nothing to protect him so one of the planks pierced his chest.” Sunday stated.
Morris Omoregie?, the sub-contractor and supervisor said that the framework had been prepared by a different contractor adding that remains of the deceased had been deposited in a mortuary, while those injured were still receiving treatment.
“I am directly involved because I lost someone. I called them to place the concrete and their frame work collapsed.
The work form was supposed to hold everything until 21 days. They are my persons, so I am the one handling the medical bills so far.”
Contacted, the spokesman Edo State Police Command DSP Osifo Abiodun stated that he has not been briefed.
