Woman and 14-Year-Old Daughter Die as Three-Storey Building Collapses in Anambra

A woman and her 14-year-old daughter have reportedly died after a three-storey building under construction collapsed in Anata Anaba, Okpoko, Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The tragic incident occurred at approximately 9:45 p.m., trapping the mother and daughter inside their apartment in a neighbouring bungalow as the building came crashing down.

According to eyewitnesses, the building reportedly made a loud noise before its walls began to crack and eventually collapsed. Emergency responders arrived at the scene and rescued some people trapped beneath the rubble, who were subsequently taken to the hospital for medical attention.

An eyewitness who spoke to Punch explained that the victims were inside their apartment when the neighbouring three-storey structure collapsed on them.

Residents of the area have raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding the incident, particularly the suitability of the land for a building of that height.

According to residents, the engineer initially responsible for the project had reportedly advised the builder to restrict the structure to two floors because of the nature of the ground. However, they alleged that the warning was ignored and construction continued beyond the recommended height.

The collapse reportedly claimed the lives of the landlady of the neighbouring property and her youngest daughter, leaving residents devastated by the tragedy.

Reacting to the incident, Anambra State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Chijioke Ojukwu, described the development as unfortunate.

Ojukwu, who visited the scene alongside Nobel Igwe, reportedly blamed the collapse on the use of substandard building materials. He also disclosed that the relevant authorities had previously issued a stop-work order on the building.

The incident has renewed concerns about building safety, compliance with construction regulations and the enforcement of government directives in Anambra State.

The deaths of the woman and her teenage daughter have left the community mourning, while questions remain about why construction allegedly continued despite the reported warning and stop-work order.