By: Ganiyu Olayinka
Residents of the Rumuolumeni area in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State were thrown into a state of alarm on Monday after a three-storey building under construction partially collapsed along Slaughter Road, off Iwofe Road.
The incident occurred at approximately 11 a.m., with a thunderous crash sending shockwaves through the surrounding neighbourhood and prompting residents to rush out of their homes in fear.
One resident, who asked not to be named, described the moment as deeply unsettling. She had initially mistaken the sound for an approaching rainstorm before stepping outside to discover the partially collapsed structure.
“We were not expecting anything like that. It came as a shock to everyone,” she said. “At first, I thought it was rain, but when I stepped outside, I saw that the three-storey building had collapsed.”
Fortunately, no casualties were recorded. Workers on site are believed to have fled to safety moments before the collapse after noticing warning signs.
“We thank God that nobody died,” the resident said. “Workers were on site, but I believe they heard a cracking sound and quickly ran out. It was as though they sensed danger and escaped for their lives.”
She also noted that the timing had likely averted a broader tragedy, as students from a nearby school were already in class at the time of the incident.
Following the collapse, officials from the Rivers State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development sealed off the premises. The cause of the partial collapse has not yet been officially determined.
Tags: #Porthacourt #Collapsedbuildings #Rumuolumeni