skip to main content

Death toll rises to 115 following church collapse in Nigeria

A South African woman rescued from the collapsed building looks at the rubble
A South African woman rescued from the collapsed building looks at the rubble

The death toll following the collapse of a church building in the Nigerian city of Lagos has risen to 115.

The collapse occurred on 12 September while an extension of the building was being carried out.

Speaking to reporters Jeff Radebe, the minister in charge of South Africa's response to the disaster, confirmed fatalities had risen to 115 and said that many of those who died were South African citizens. 

"South Africans (are) about 84 that have died," Mr Radebe said.

He has called on the heavily criticised Nigerian government to investigate the "tragedy".

The disaster has opened up a diplomatic rift between the two countries.

South Africans are angry at what they see as the Nigerian government dragging its feet on beginning an investigation into the collapse.