Early Saturday morning in Abuja, a segment of a two-storey residential building collapsed, trapping multiple individuals under the rubble.
The building, situated adjacent to the well-known Cupid Hotel on Cupid Road (Sultan Dasuki Way) in Kubwa, was previously operated as a hotel named Al-Hilal before being converted into a hospital. After the hospital vacated the premises, it was repurposed as residential apartments.
Emergency responders and security personnel swiftly arrived at the scene to initiate rescue operations. However, efforts were hindered by the delayed arrival of necessary cranes required for the operation, which had yet to arrive by 8:45 am, nearly two hours post-collapse.
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Amid the chaos, two individuals were quickly transported to a nearby hospital, while a handful managed to escape on their own accord.
One of the evacuees, who chose to remain anonymous, recounted waking up around 7 a.m. and hearing unsettling cracks, prompting her to swiftly exit the building.