Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has expressed sadness over the building collapse on Peter Odili Road in Port Harcourt that claimed several lives, describing the incident as avoidable.

In a statement posted on his official Facebook page on Friday, the governor said he visited the scene on Thursday and lamented the tragedy.

“We are deeply touched by the loss of human lives, as such misfortune should not have occurred in modern times when professional standards and safety measures are expected to guide construction activities.

“However, I commiserate with the families of the deceased and sympathise with those injured. I believe that the government will keep doing its best to mitigate future occurrences,” he said.

Fubara disclosed that he had ordered the immediate closure of the construction site pending a full investigation into the cause of the collapse.

According to the governor, the probe is aimed at determining the circumstances surrounding the incident and preventing similar occurrences in the future.

Meanwhile, rescue operations are continuing, with several people still believed to be trapped beneath the rubble.

Emergency workers carried out rescue efforts from the early hours of Thursday until about 6 p.m. before suspending operations for the day. The exercise is expected to resume on Friday as responders continue the search for survivors.