Listen Live
St Jude banner
CLOSE
Church collapse kills 'at least 160' worshippers in Nigeria

Source: Anadolu Agency / Getty

 

The death toll from a church collapse on Saturday in Nigeria has reached at least 160, reports the New York Times. Hundreds of parishioners had gathered in the newly constructed Reigners Bible Church International, located in the southern city of Uyo. They came to celebrate the consecration of founder Akan Weeks as the church’s bishop.

The structure collapsed during the service, and the iron roof crashed down on everyone inside.

“There were trapped bodies, parts of bodies, blood all over the place and people’s handbags and shoes scattered,”Ukeme Eyibio, who was making a phone call from his car parked nearby, told the Associated Press.

Eyibio and others rescued trapped survivors while they waited for emergency crews with heavy equipment to arrive.

“I’m so traumatized I could not sleep last night for the horrors repeating themselves in my mind,” he told the news agency.

Worshippers told the AP that construction workers rushed to complete the church in time for the ceremony.

Building collapses are common in Nigeria, The Times reported. Contractors often use poor quality materials and bribe inspectors.

Akwa Ibom state Governor Udom Emmanuel was in attendence when the church collapsed. He is one of the lucky one who survived. Emmanuel’s spokesman told the AP that an investigation is underway.

SOURCE: New York Times, Associated Press

SEE ALSO:

Nigerian Baby Abandoned Over Witchcraft Claims Makes Astonishing Recovery At Orphanage

Texas Couple Faces Jail Time For Enslaving Nigerian Nanny

 

ARTICLE FROM: NewsOne.com

Article Courtesy of the New York Times, Associated Press, and NewsOne

Picture Courtesy of the Anadolu Agency, Getty Images, and NewsOne

Tweet and Video Courtesy of ABC News, Twitter, and NewsOne

President Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Michelle Obama, Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen & More Rally To Get Out The Vote in Philly [Photos]
62 photos