Narrow escape: Students survive as four-storey Lagos school collapses

Students and staff narrowly survive as Yemco College’s four-storey building collapses in Lagos minutes after evacuation

Students and teachers of Yemco Nursery, Primary and Comprehensive College in the Ogba area of Lagos narrowly escaped death on Monday after the school’s four-storey building collapsed shortly after they evacuated.

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The structure caved in around noon, less than three minutes after students and staff had been moved out, authorities said.

The swift evacuation prevented what could have been a catastrophic loss of life.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic before the evacuation, with teachers guiding children out of classrooms just moments before the building gave way.

No casualties have been reported so far, though emergency services have arrived at the scene to secure the area and assess structural safety.

The collapse has raised concerns about the structural integrity of school buildings in the city, prompting calls for stricter safety inspections and enforcement of building standards.

Local education and safety officials are investigating the cause of the collapse and reviewing other school properties in Lagos to prevent similar incidents.

This alarming incident comes amid growing scrutiny of infrastructure safety in Lagos State, particularly in educational institutions.

Parents and community members have expressed relief that swift action by school staff prevented a tragedy.

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Authorities have urged schools to prioritise emergency drills and regular building assessments to safeguard students and staff against unforeseen disasters.

Mariam Balogun