Panic gripped the Oko community in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State after a three-storey student hostel collapsed, trapping an unknown number of occupants beneath the rubble.
The building, identified as Elite Five Star Lodge, is located beside Tonimas Filling Station in Amokpala, Oko, a community that hosts students from surrounding tertiary institutions.
The hostel reportedly caved in during the early hours of Monday while students were inside, triggering frantic rescue efforts by residents, security agencies and emergency responders.
An eyewitness, Ifeoma, said a loud sound preceded the collapse, drawing residents and students to the scene.
“We heard a very loud noise before the building collapsed. Within moments, the occupants started shouting for help as the structure came down,” she said.
The Anambra State Police Command confirmed the incident, saying a joint security team immediately secured the area and coordinated rescue operations alongside the Anambra State Fire Service and the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
Police spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said some injured victims had been rescued from the debris and taken to a hospital in Oko for treatment, while efforts continued to reach others who might still be trapped.
He urged residents to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information and stay away from the scene to allow emergency workers unrestricted access.
Authorities said the number of casualties and those trapped had yet to be determined as rescue operations continued.
