Twenty-one people died after aย schoolย buildingย collapsed in central Nigeria while students were sitting an exam in what local authorities called an โavoidable tragedy.โ
The two-story buildingย collapsed in the city of Josย and saw a further 30 people hospitalized, according to Nigeriaโs National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
NEMA said that students were amongst those who died in Jos, the capital of Plateau State, without providing an exact number.
Around 120 people were trapped when the buildingย collapsed, according to Plateau State government.
The governor of Plateau State, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, said the buildingย collapsed as students were sittingย anย exam. Mutfwang expressed his โdeep sympathy to the families of studentsย and staff of St. Academyย School.โ
The Plateau State government said in a statement Friday: โThe government describes the incident as an avoidable tragedy, citing the schoolโs weak structure and unsafe location near a riverbank.โ
Local hospitals have been instructed by the government to provide treatment without documentation or payment.
Schools with similar safety issues have been urged to close down, the government said.
Building collapses are common in Nigeria due to lax construction standards and poor quality materials.
