4 injured as 2-storey hotel collapses in Port Harcourt

An appendage of a two-storey hotel has collapsed in the Ada-George area of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, leaving four persons injured.

It was gathered that the two-storey building belonging to 1708 Hotel, Rumuoke by Okilton Junction, collapsed at about 6 a.m. on Thursday.

The incident occurred when some residents of the area were still asleep, and occupants of the building who were mainly site workers, were getting ready to resume for the day’s job.

The Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Emeka Woke, while inspecting the level of damage and causal effect of the incident, said the state government would take every measure to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the collapse.

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Woke said: “Early this morning, the governor, Siminialaye Fubara, was informed about this building collapse and he directed that I immediately visit the site on his behalf and assess the extent of damage and report back to him.

“Having seen the building, the first thing we did was carry out a personnel audit and from available records, no life was lost but we have been told that four persons sustained some injuries and taken to the hospital for treatment.”

The commissioner disclosed that the governor also directed that the premises of the collapsed building be sealed off pending investigation.

He, however, noted that rescue operations were ongoing at the site, basically to evacuate the rubbles.

An engineer handling the integrity test on the collapsed building, Isa Aghaebne, said a structural integrity test will commence on Friday.

He, however, noted that the collapse might possibly be due to foundation failure or failure of the structure itself.

“We can’t ascertain now until we have concluded an integrity test which is expected to last for about two weeks,” Aghaebne said.

The Star