LAGOS, Nigeria (Associated Press) — Up to 160 people are reported to have been killed after a church roof collapsed onto worshippers in southern Nigeria.
The final death toll will likely be “much” higher than 160 and public mortuaries are no longer able to cope, Etete Peters told the Associated Press.
Youth leader Edikan Peters said many other victims were in private mortuaries scattered all over the city of Uyo.
Hundreds of worshippers gathered inside the church for the ordaining of a bishop on Saturday, despite the fact that the building was still under construction.
Witnesses said metal girders gave way and crashed to the ground before the entire corrugated iron roof caved in.
The state government said it is investigating to see if building standards were compromised.
Udom Emmanuel, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, was among those inside the church when the roof collapsed, but was able to escape.
In a statement, he described the collapse as “an unfortunate incident” and said he had “shared in the agony of the moment”.
He said construction workers involved in building the church were among those who helped with the evacuation, adding: “They acted promptly and I commend their sense of patriotism and gallantry.”
