By Okechukwu Onuegbu
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Monday, sealed the premises of the collapsed Elite Five Star Hostel at Amaokpala community, near Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Blueprint learnt that the privately owned three-storey hostel collapsed around 11 pm on Friday with many feared dead although rescue operations sent in by government, private individuals and the polytechnic authority were currently at the site.
Some of the videos obtained by the Blueprint indicated that one lady believed to be student of Federal Polytechnic Oko was killed by the collapsed building while at least five persons rescued alive were spotted as they were being treated in a hospital.
Although the reason behind the building collapse had not been ascertained, a resident of Amaokpala, Miss Roselyn Okoye, alleged that the hostel was constructed around 2015 and herself had rented an accommodation there before parking out when she noticed some cracks and unusual shape.
Meanwhile, the management of Federal Polytechnic Oko had in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Udoka Oguegbu dismissed allegations that the incident claimed the lives of their students or happened within the campus.
According to Oguegbu, the hostel was occupied by both students and non-students even as the incident occurred after they had completed their second-semester examinations with a significant number of students travelled home having vacated for an ongoing short break.
"The incident occurred at Amaokpala, a neighbouring community, and involved a privately owned lodge occupied by both students and non-students. The Polytechnic further wishes to clarify that, as of the time of filing this report, no student of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, has been confirmed dead, and no life has been lost in the unfortunate incident.
"Information gathered as of the time of this report indicates that some occupants have already been rescued and are receiving medical attention at a nearby hospital for injuries reportedly described as not life threatening. It is further understood that approximately two persons, who are reportedly not students of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, may still be trapped, with rescue personnel continuing efforts to locate and rescue them," he added.
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