Collapse of School Building in Nigeria; "Dozens of Children are Trapped Under the Rubble"

Due to the collapse of a three-story school building in Lagos, Nigeria, on Wednesday, March 13, dozens of students are trapped under the rubble. The governor of Lagos State stated that 25 people have been rescued so far, but the number of casualties is still unknown. Videos from the Associated Press show rescue workers pulling several children with dirt-covered bodies and shocked faces from the rubble, while the crowd around the scene welcomes them with joy. However, when the lifeless bodies of children are pulled out and carried away, the crowd expresses their concern and mourning in silence. Rescue operations to save children trapped under the rubble continue, and injured children are being transported to hospitals in the city by ambulance. This building is located in one of the densely populated neighborhoods of Lagos, the commercial capital of Nigeria, which has a population of about 20 million. The cause of the building's collapse is still unknown, but such incidents are very common in Nigeria, where many buildings are constructed without permits and technical oversight. Some witnesses say that around 100 students were inside the elementary school when it collapsed. Hundreds of people gathered in the narrow streets or on rooftops to watch the rescue operation. A bulldozer began moving large pieces of concrete walls after clearing the debris. Several local men arrived with chainsaws and crowbars to assist the rescue workers, while some worked with bare hands and even barefoot. A spokesperson for Nigeria's National Emergency Management Agency told the Associated Press, "Given that the rescue operation is still ongoing, we cannot comment on the number of casualties." This incident occurs at a time when Muhammadu Buhari, who has recently been elected for a second term as the president of Africa's most populous country, has promised to improve Nigeria's outdated and inadequate infrastructure. The International Monetary Fund recently reported that "Nigeria's infrastructure is less than 50% of the average of African countries and is very poor compared to countries with flourishing economies." So far, the Nigerian presidency has not reacted to this incident. While operations to rescue children trapped under the rubble continue, the personal assistant to the president posted a photo of a new and stylish terminal at Abuja Airport (the capital) on Twitter.