January 12, 2022

No fewer than three persons have been confirmed dead following the collapse of a building housing Salvation Ministry church at Okpanam community in Delta State.

Okpanam is in Oshimili North Local Government Area (LGA) of the state and has in recent years enjoyed an inflow of people who took advantage of its proximity to Asaba to develop or rent property in the town.

Many churches have also established parishes in the town now almost merging with Asaba because of the rapid development of the community.

A woman and two girls were said to have lost their lives in the incident which occurred about 5pm on Tuesday, creating a heavy traffic along the busy Asaba-Okpanam road.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Delta, Bright Edafe, has confirmed the number of casualties, adding that 18 other people trapped in the rubble were rescued.

According to him, 15 of those rescued were injured and four of them have been discharged while the remaining 11 people are still receiving treatment.

Building collapse has not been a common feature in Delta and the government, according to sources, is “set to probe this rare incident.”