Disaster managers including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Imo counterpart, SEMA and the Red Cross were on ground carrying out rescue operations.

Mr Evans Ugoh, Head of Imo/Abia operations office of NEMA confirmed that two casualties had so far been recorded while seven persons had been rescued.

Ugoh disclosed that many people were believed to have been trapped at the debris of the collapsed building.

He said that rescue operation would be on till it was ascertained that nobody was still trapped under the debris.

On the cause of the incident, Ugoh said, “for now, we are focusing on rescue operation, it will be followed with the cause of the collapse.

“We have taken those already rescued to the hospital for medical attention, while further search is still ongoing,” he said.