Sixteen people, including several children, were affected after a residential building collapsed in the Dan Dishe area of Kwanar Yashi, Fagge Local Government Area of Kano State, early Saturday morning.
The Kano State Fire Service said 13 victims were rescued from the rubble, including 10 who were found alive and three others who were unconscious when emergency responders reached the scene.
The Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Fire Service, ACFO Saminu Yusif Abdullahi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday, saying the service received a distress call at about 4:32am and immediately deployed personnel to the scene.
According to him, the collapsed residential building measured approximately 20 by 30 feet.
“Upon receiving the report, men of the Service from the Headquarters were immediately mobilised to the scene. On arrival, they discovered that a residential building of about 20 by 30 feet had collapsed,” the statement said.
Abdullahi said emergency responders conducted a search-and-rescue operation at the scene and succeeded in recovering several occupants trapped inside the collapsed structure.
Five of the victims rescued alive were identified as Al-Mustapha Yusuf, 15; Khadija Yusuf, seven; Ummusalama Yusuf, 10; Madina Yusuf, six; and Hafsat Yusuf, nine.
The three victims rescued unconscious were identified as Affan Yusuf, five; Hassana Yusuf, seven; and Ummulkursum Yusuf, nine months.
Eight other victims rescued alive could not be immediately identified by the emergency responders.
The victims were subsequently handed over to Usman Ibrahim, identified as their father’s brother, for further necessary attention.
The fire service did not immediately disclose the extent of injuries sustained by the victims, but the rescue of three unconscious occupants highlighted the seriousness of the incident and the urgency of the emergency response.
The agency also said the exact cause of the collapse had not been established as of the time of the report.
It explained that investigations were ongoing to determine the circumstances that led to the failure of the structure.
The incident occurred in the early hours when residents were likely asleep, increasing the risk of people becoming trapped inside the building before emergency responders arrived.
The fire service urged residents to remain vigilant and report buildings showing signs of structural weakness to the appropriate authorities before they pose a danger to occupants and neighbouring residents.
“The Kano State Fire Service urges members of the public to observe all necessary safety precautions, particularly during the rainy season, to prevent similar incidents,” the statement added.
The agency also advised residents to seek professional assessment of buildings that develop cracks, weakened walls or other signs of structural distress.
It stressed that early intervention could help identify potential structural failures and prevent avoidable deaths and injuries.
The latest incident has also renewed concerns about building safety in densely populated communities, where residential structures are sometimes occupied by several family members despite possible structural weaknesses.
The rainy season has further heightened concerns in many communities, as prolonged rainfall and water infiltration can weaken some structures, particularly buildings that are poorly constructed, inadequately maintained or built without proper consideration of environmental conditions.
However, the fire service did not attribute the Kano collapse to rainfall or any particular structural defect, stressing that investigations were still being conducted.
Emergency responders have increasingly emphasised the importance of early reporting, saying timely information allows rescue teams to reach affected locations quickly and potentially save lives.
The Kano incident also highlights the importance of preparedness by residents and emergency agencies, particularly in densely populated neighbourhoods where access roads can affect the speed of rescue operations.
Beyond the immediate rescue of victims, authorities are expected to determine whether the building complied with relevant construction standards and whether any structural defects or other factors contributed to its collapse.
For the families affected, the immediate priority remains the recovery and treatment of those injured, particularly the children among the rescued victims.
The authorities are also expected to establish the condition of the building and ensure that any remaining occupants are not exposed to further danger.
Building collapses have remained a recurring safety concern in several Nigerian cities, raising questions about construction standards, building approvals, professional supervision, maintenance and enforcement of regulations.
The incident in Fagge therefore underscores the need for regular inspection of residential structures, particularly older buildings and those showing visible signs of deterioration.
It also reinforces the importance of strengthening collaboration between emergency agencies, local authorities, building professionals and residents to identify risks before structural failures occur.
West Trybe reports that the rescue of 13 occupants from the collapsed building demonstrates the importance of rapid emergency response, while the involvement of several children highlights the vulnerability of families living in structures whose safety may not have been adequately assessed. The incident is expected to further draw attention to the enforcement of building standards and preventive inspections as authorities work to reduce the recurrence of building collapses.
