Rivers State Government says preliminary investigation revealed that the two-storey building that collapsed along Okporo Road in Obio/Akpor LGA of the state was constructed without the necessary building approval.
The State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Isaac Umejuru disclosed this in a statement on Friday.
According to him, the premises of the building has been sealed off as rescue work is almost concluded.
He said investigation has begun and the engineer was being held responsible, adding that those injured are currently receiving treatment.
He said,“It is an old building that they now put another building on top of, and the second one coming up led to the collapse, but luckily the three people the building collapsed on were saved, and a two-year-old child was there also.
“But they have been rushed to a private hospital somewhere around Rumudara, and they are taking treatments.
“We have launched a discrete investigation into the immediate cause and causes of this collapse.
“However, visually, we can see that the building is an old building and someone is attempting to cut corners by adding another floor to it, but the ministry will investigate to find the cause of the collapse.”
