Three people have been confirmed dead after a two-storey building reportedly sank into the ground on Baale Road in the Ajuwon area of Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.

According to Channels Television, the incident occurred at about 2 pm on Monday following a heavy downpour and a thunderstorm, trapping several occupants beneath the structure.

The South-West Zonal Director of the National Emergency Management Agency, Saheed Akiode, said rescue operations remain underway, with emergency workers continuing to clear debris.

He disclosed that 12 people were rescued alive, while three bodies had been recovered from the rubble.

Akiode explained that the entire structure would need to be demolished to allow rescuers access to areas still buried beneath the collapsed building.

“The operation is still ongoing and we need to ensure that the building is brought down to ground level so that we can see what is underneath. The situation is calm, and we urge everyone in the area to remain peaceful,” he said.

He added that NEMA activated emergency response agencies immediately after receiving reports of the incident, with rescue and recovery teams working at the site since Monday.

The Chairman of Ifo Local Government, Kusimo Idris, also confirmed that 12 occupants were rescued, including two newborn babies less than two months old.

Eyewitnesses said the building collapsed shortly after heavy rainfall and a thunderstorm. Unconfirmed reports suggested about 15 people were inside the structure when it gave way.

The collapse reportedly destroyed two floors of the building, leaving only the topmost section partially standing.

Officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency later joined NEMA and other responders at the scene to support the rescue operation.

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Building Production Management Authority has marked a neighbouring building as distressed. The property, which houses three shops, has sparked panic among traders, many of whom have begun removing their goods as a precaution.