The Plateau State Government, Friday night, confirmed that 22 persons died and 132 persons were injured when a school, Saint Academy, located at the Busa Buji community in Jos North Local Government Area of the state collapsed Friday morning.
There had been conflicting reports about the casualty figure yielded by the tragedy which the state government attributed to sub-standard work and poor quality materials used in constructing the collapsed structure.
At the conclusion of rescue operation at the tragedy site, the Executive Secretary of the state Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Sunday Abdu, had announced that 17 persons died when the school caved in while classes were on.
But in a statement Friday night, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Musa Ashoms, updated the morbid statistics, confirming that the casualty figure had risen to 22 with 132 battling varying degrees of injuries.
“The Plateau State Government expresses its deepest condolences following the tragic building collapse at Saint Academy, Jos, on July 12, 2024,” the Commissioner said in the statement. “ The collapse resulted in 154 fatalities and injuries. Emergency responders are currently at the scene conducting search and rescue operations.
“Current situation as of 6:00 pm, 154 people have been rescued from the debris. Sadly, 22 individuals have been confirmed deceased. Injured students and staff are receiving medical treatment at various hospitals across Jos.
“Breakdown of Hospital Admissions and Fatalities: Hospital, Patients and number Deaths. Plateau State Specialist Hospital, 39 hospitalised and three deaths; Our Lady of Apostles Hospital, 32 hospitalised and five deaths; Bingham University Teaching Hospital, 55 hospitalised and 14 deaths. Jos University Teaching Hospital, six hospitalised and zero deaths.
“Total: 132 hospitalised and 22 deaths, a grand total of 154 victims.”
