Two workers of a Chinese construction company working on road projects in Abeokuta, Ogun State almost lost their lives yesterday when the ground on which they were working caved in and nearly buried them alive.
The victims, simply identified as 41-years-old Kehinde and Friday Fryo, were part of the casual workers engaged by the Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company, CCECC, to work at the mason section of the company.
Kehinde and Fryo were busy working in one of the underground units of one of the construction sites at the Sapon overhead bridge in Abeokuta metropolis when the ground caved in about 12:30p.m, thereby causing debris to bury them alive.
It, however, took the quick intervention of coworkers who responded to the alarm raised by one of the workers before Kehinde and Fryo were rescued from the debris.
A colleague, who witnessed the incident, Ibrahim Lawal, told journalists that one of the Chinese, Master Sang, was also affected when the debris caved in and splashed water on him.
Lawal also explained that the rescuers used shovels and other working tools to remove Kehinde and Fryo from under the debris before they were taken to the CCECC's sickbay at Olomoore area of Abeokuta metropolis.
At press time, it was still uncertain whether the victims would survive the incident as their colleagues said they sustained severe injuries, adding that blood was gushing out from their heads and noses.
Efforts to also speak with the company officials or the site supervisor, identified as Mr. Wasiu, were unsuccessful as none of them was willing to speak with journalists.
Also at the Olomoore site of the CCECC's sickbay, journalists were not allowed into the premises by the management of the construction company.
The incident came barely 11 days after the company's casual workers protested their poor working condition.
Source: Two workers escape death as construction site caves in (http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/two-workers-escape-death-as-construction-site-caves-in/)