Many children and adults have reportedly been trapped under a building housing Salvation Ministries, Okpanam, Oshimili North Local Government Area, Delta State, following its collapse.
According to DailyPost, the building was being used for the first time for service on Tuesday when it collapsed.
At the time of filing this report, MDB was yet to confirm the number of those trapped but there are reports that eight persons have been rescued unhurt, while four persons have been rushed to the Asaba Specialist Hospital.
Secretary to the State Government, Patrick Ukah, Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr Ononye Mordi, team of Red Cross officers, and fire fighters were on ground on a rescue mission.
According to ThePunch, the incident occurred around 5pm especially at the children section of the church during Bible studies with over 50 kids trapped.
The church building, which has reportedly stayed for over 10 years, was initially designed as a plaza before the church occupied the upper chamber of the one storey building.
One of the church members simply identified as Grace Ibe, stated that the service was ongoing when the building collapsed with a thunderous noise.
She said;
We were clapping and praying when suddenly we heard the cracking and the building swallowed the children section with the children.
Ibe expressed that the church is currently observing its new year 21-day fasting but members of the ill-fated church came to break the fasting with a communion service.
The witness added that no fewer than 15 women and 20 children have been rescued but it could not be ascertained whether they were still alive as they were being rolled into ambulances.
Watch some videos from the scene of the incident below:
Black Tuesday for Asaba as several children and adults are trapped inside a church building that collapsed. The church is reported to be salvation ministry. pic.twitter.com/sLx12ltUY7
— Bayelsa|Warri Twytter Queen 👑 (@BrayelaLayefa) January 11, 2022
Salvation Ministry church building in Okpanam road Asaba has collapsed
Many injured, few reported dead n many still trapped in the building
This is heartbreaking 💔💔 pic.twitter.com/k85jcEjpTy
— JUS⚔️Y (@justy_na2) January 11, 2022
