Lagos disaster: death toll uncertain

Rescue workers search for survivors in the rubble of a collapsed building belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nations in Lagos, Nigeria. Photo: AP Photo/ Sunday Alamba

Rescue workers search for survivors in the rubble of a collapsed building belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nations in Lagos, Nigeria. Photo: AP Photo/ Sunday Alamba

Published Sep 17, 2014

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Johannesburg - The death toll in a building collapse in Nigeria is still uncertain, South Africa's high commissioner to Nigeria said on Wednesday.

“The numbers can still either go up or down,” Lulu Mnguni told eNCA from Nigeria.

He said there was a lack of access to information on the ground.

“We have put more people on the ground to assist us,” said Mnguni.

“At the moment about 20 people are hospitalised and then we have 248 who survived the collapse.”

South Africa was sending a team of experts from different departments to Nigeria to assist, he said.

President Jacob Zuma announced on Tuesday evening that 67 South Africans were killed and “scores others” injured after faith healer TB Joshua's Synagogue Church of All Nations collapsed on Friday in Lagos.

On Wednesday morning, international relations spokesman Clayson Monyela said no more information was available yet.

The Star newspaper reported that about 300 South Africans from five different church tour groups had been lodging in the structure that collapsed. - Sapa

* The figures for dead and injured people in this disaster are still being collated. IOL will use the latest figures available to us, but be aware the numbers will fluctuate as the story is updated.

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