Six persons were rescued alive after a section of a building collapsed at Whitefield Rice Mills Processing Company Limited in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State.
The Federal Fire Service (FFS), Kano State Command, said the incident occurred on Monday evening after it received a distress call at about 6:45 p.m., prompting the immediate deployment of firefighters and rescue personnel from Danzaki Fire Station.
According to a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Al-Hassan Ahmad Kantin on Tuesday, rescue teams commenced search and rescue operations immediately on arrival at the scene.
The statement said the operation involved the use of “shovels, grinding machines, and other rescue equipment to remove debris and create safe access routes for trapped victims.”
It added that “through the professionalism, dedication, and coordinated efforts of the rescue personnel, six individuals were successfully rescued alive from the collapsed structure.”
The Fire Service said preliminary investigations revealed that the collapse was caused by excessive loading of stored items within the affected section of the facility.
It noted that “the incident was confined to Milling Unit 1 of the rice processing company, preventing further structural impact on other parts of the premises.”
The Service confirmed that no lives were lost in the incident, adding that its prompt response helped save property worth an estimated ₦15 million, while property valued at about ₦10 million was lost.
Following the rescue operation, firefighters conducted a thorough inspection of the scene to ensure there were no further risks before handing over the site to the appropriate authorities.
The State Controller of the Federal Fire Service in Kano, Engr. Kazeem Sholadoye Oyefola, commended the rescue personnel for their swift response and professionalism in ensuring “the successful rescue of all trapped victims without any loss of life.”
The Service also urged residents, property owners and developers to ensure buildings are structurally sound, avoid excessive loading of structures and promptly report signs of structural distress.
