By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos

Two persons have been confirmed dead while 16 others were rescued alive following the collapse of a storey building in the Satellite Town area of Lagos on Thursday.

The building, located on Old Ojo Road by Alakija Bus Stop, off the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, collapsed while occupied by multiple residents, triggering a large-scale emergency response.

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said it received a distress call at about 11:37 a.m. and immediately deployed responders from the Ijegun-Egba Fire Station, who arrived at the scene at 11:49 a.m.

Initial rescue efforts led to the evacuation of 10 occupants with varying degrees of injuries. However, rescue authorities later confirmed that six additional persons had been pulled out alive from the rubble.

The agency also disclosed that two bodies had been recovered during the ongoing search and rescue operation.

In a statement issued by the Controller General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye, emergency responders said efforts were continuing to locate, extricate and evacuate any other victims who might still be trapped beneath the debris.

The collapsed structure was described as an existing residential storey building occupied by several residents at the time of the incident.

Agencies participating in the rescue operation include the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Federal Fire Service, Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Navy, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps and the Nigerian Red Cross Society.

The cause of the collapse had yet to be determined as emergency personnel continued operations at the scene as of press time.