Children killed in Nigeria school collapse

Twenty-two children tragically lost their lives and at least 132 others were injured when a school building collapsed in Jos, the capital of Nigeria's central Plateau state.

The incident occurred on July 12 morning at Saint Academy while students were in class, leaving many trapped under the debris, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Rescue efforts were swift, with volunteers using excavators, hammers, and their hands to clear concrete and twisted iron rods to reach those trapped. Local police confirmed the deaths of 22 children, while many injured students were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. The school reportedly had over 1,000 pupils.

Abel Fuandai, a local resident, described the tragedy as "frightening," recounting how his friend's son lost his life in the collapse. The state government has launched an investigation, citing the school's "weak structure and unsafe location near a riverbank." It urged other schools with structural concerns to close immediately.

Following three days of heavy rains in Plateau, residents speculated that the collapse may have been triggered by the weather conditions. Wulliya Ibrahim, an injured student, recalled entering the classroom shortly before hearing the collapse: "We are many in the class, we are writing our exams," he said.

Local resident Chika Obioha reported witnessing several fatalities and the successful rescue of many others, noting the community's collective efforts in the aftermath. Unicef Nigeria representative Cristian Munduate expressed condolences, emphasizing that the children were in the midst of their exams when the tragedy struck.

Nigeria has experienced several building collapses in recent years, often attributed to factors such as substandard construction, poor quality materials, and corruption. In a similar incident in 2021, a high-rise under construction collapsed in Lagos, claiming at least 45 lives.