The death toll in a school building which collapsed in Jos, Plateau State on Friday morning has increased from to 22.
The Executive Secretary of the state Emergency Management Agency, Sunday Abdu had earlier confirmed 17 persons dead after a rescue operation at the Saint Academy located at the Busa Buji community in Jos North Local Government Area of the state
In a statement on Friday night, by the state Commissioner for Information, Musa Ashoms, who gave a fresh update on the sad incident, confirmed that the death had risen to 22 while 154 persons suffered different degrees of fatalities
The statement read in part, “The Plateau State Government expresses its deepest condolences following the tragic building collapse at Saint Academy, Jos, on 12 July 2024. The collapse resulted in 154 fatalities and injuries. Emergency responders are currently at the scene conducting search and rescue operations.
“Current situation as of 6:00 pm, 154 people have been rescued from the debris. Sadly, 22 individuals have been confirmed deceased. Injured students and staff are receiving medical treatment at various hospitals across Jos.
“Breakdown of Hospital Admissions and Fatalities: Hospital, Patients and number Deaths. Plateau State Specialist Hospital, 39 hospitalised and three deaths; Our Lady of Apostles Hospital, 32 hospitalised and five deaths; Bingham University Teaching Hospital, 55 hospitalised and 14 deaths. Jos University Teaching Hospital, six hospitalised and zero deaths.
“Total: 132 hospitalised and 22 deaths, a grand total of 154 victims”.
The commissioner added, “The Plateau State Government activated emergency response protocols immediately upon notification of the incident.
“Emergency services include the National Emergency Management Agency, State Emergency Management Agency, Red Cross, security agencies, and healthcare professionals who have been working collaboratively in search, rescue and resuscitation efforts.
“To ensure prompt medical attention, the government has directed all major hospitals in Jos to prioritize treatment of the victims, regardless of documentation or payment.
“The Governor, (Caleb) Mutfwang, has specifically instructed these hospitals to accommodate those affected by the collapse”.
According to the statement, the government equally emphasises the importance of adhering to established safety standards in building construction.
Citing Executive Order 003, the government urges schools and other facility owners with structural concerns to close their facilities immediately.
“The Jos Metropolitan Development Board will conduct inspections to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The commissioner said a thorough investigation into the cause of the collapsed building was underway.
Earlier, tears flowed freely on Friday as parents and sympathisers gathered at the scene of a school building collapse.
An earlier report revealed that the school building located in Busa Buji community caved in around 8:30 am on Friday when the students and teachers were in their classes.
In a statement on Friday, the state Commissioner for Information, Musa Ashoms, who visited the scene, said that 120 persons were still trapped in the debris after the sad incident.
The statement, which described the incident as avoidable, indicated that the structure housing the school was weak, leading to its collapse.
“The Plateau State Government has expressed deep sadness over the tragic incident at Saint Academy Jos, where a building collapsed resulting in casualties and injured students and teachers still being evacuated to different hospitals within Jos.
“The government describes the incident as an avoidable tragedy, citing the school’s weak structure and unsafe location near a riverbank.
“However, we commend the efforts of NEMA, SEMA, Red Cross and security agencies in rescuing trapped children and transporting them to hospitals.
“To ensure prompt medical attention, the government has instructed hospitals to prioritise treatment without documentation or payment. The Commissioner for Health has also ordered all major hospitals in Jos to attend to the victims.
“Approximately 120 people were trapped, with many evacuated. The government emphasises the importance of adhering to safety standards, making Executive Order 003 sacrosanct. Schools with similar issues are urged to close down, enabling the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB) to prevent future incidents.
“The government commiserates with affected families and stresses the need for clearance from the JMDB for any structure to be erected the state. This incident highlights the importance of prioritising safety standards to prevent tragedies and ensure the well-being of citizens, especially children”.
The Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, Sunday Abdu, who spoke with Saturday PUNCH after their rescue operations, confirmed that 17 persons had died as a result of the incident.
The SEMA boss, who described the incident as sad, said, “We have finished the rescue mission at least for today. We are just closing from the site. The fact remains that the casualty figures keep changing. In Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos, there are 43 injured persons receiving medical attention, while 13 persons were confirmed dead.
“In OLA Specialist Hospital, we have over 40 receiving attention. In Plateau Specialists Hospital, we have four dead bodies, with 40 people receiving treatment.
“We also have some casualties who were evacuated to the Jos University Teaching hospital but I don’t have the figure at the moment.
President Tinubu mourns
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu on Friday night received with profound grief the news of the tragic collapse of a school building, which resulted in multiple deaths and many surviving victims in Jos, Plateau State,
“President Tinubu describes the unfortunate incident as a huge loss to the nation, as well as a devastating development – too excruciating to imagine”, a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said on Friday.
Mutfwang also
In a related development, Governor Caleb Mutfwang, has expressed deep sympathy to the families of students and staff of St. Academy School, Jos, who died in the collapse of a two-storey school building behind St. Murumba, Busa Buji, in Jos North Local Government Area of the state.
In a statement on Friday by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, the governor said he received the heartbreaking news with grief and sorrow, describing the tragedy as unfortunate.
He stated that nothing could be more painful and heart-wrenching than the gloomy situation.
