Church Roof Collapse Leaves 160 Dead in Nigeria

© Photo: PDP Akwa Ibom State twitter

Sputniknews -13/12/16

At least 160 people have died after a church roof collapsed during a service in Uyo, in the Akawa Ibom state, Nigeria, on December 10, Associated Press reports citing the head of a local hospital. Other reports suggest the death toll may exceed 200.

According to earlier reports, 60 people were believed to have died and many injured after a church roof collapsed during a service in Nigeria December 10.

The Reigners Bible Church International in Uyo, in the Akawa Ibom state, was still under construction when the crowded service was held. Workers had been hustling to prepare it in time for the ceremony to ordain founder Akan Weeks as a bishop, when the disaster occurred.

According to chief medical director of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Etete Peters, the death toll could exceed 200.

“Many victims are in private hospitals and mortuaries scattered all over Uyo metropolis; we can’t really tell how many people have died so far. We have over 200 persons in the mortuaries. We do not have space, as people are still being brought in,” he said as quoted by YNaija.com.

The building collapsed from the middle, witnesses reported. The final death toll is feared to be higher.

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