A church in the Nigerian city of Uyo collapsed Sunday as a service was going on inside, killing at least one hundred people and injuring many others.
Members of the Reigners Bible Church in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, had gathered for a ceremony to consecrate the church’s pastor becoming a bishop.
The building, which was still under construction, collapsed on the members inside, with steel beams crushing scores to death.
The governor of the state, Udom Emmanuel, was actually present at the ceremony, and narrowly escaped death or injury.
“It happened all at once. The faithful had been singing and dancing. It sounded like rain and the roof caved in and it all happened very quickly,” Aniekeme Finbarr, a media liason for the Governor said after the tragedy.
The BBC reports at least 100 bodies recovered from the site, although other estimates put it higher. The building was far from finished but had been rushed for the consecration ceremony, the BBC added.
This is far from the deadliest church collapse in Nigeria in recent times. T.B Joshua’s church also suffered a similar collapse a couple years ago, which was also linked to improper construction, something the preacher refused to admit, instead blaming imaginary planes bringing his building down.
Finbarr, the governor’s spokesperson, has promised an investigation into the tragedy.
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I pray that the souls of the deceased will rest in peace, and that the injured will experience quick recovery.
— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) December 10, 2016
Any tragedy that affects any part of Nigeria affects all of us. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the people of Akwa Ibom.
— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) December 10, 2016