The grim picture of the Synagogue tragedy was laid bare yesterday, with SouthAfrican President Jacob Zuma announcing that 67 of its citizens died in last Friday’s building collapse in Lagos.
“I am greatly saddened to announce that 67 South Africans died and scores of others sustained injuries, after a building at the Synagogue Church of All Nations collapsed on Friday,” Zuma said in a statement.
At least five South African church tour groups were at the Synagogue at the time of the collapse, according to officials.
The number of South African dead exceeds the previously known toll for the disaster, a grim signal that the number of fatalities may rise further.
Nigerian officials at the site said yesterday that the death toll had climbed up to 63, up from 49 on Monday.
Zuma said South Africa was grieving.
“Not in the recent history of our country have we had this large number of our people die in one incident outside the country.
“Our thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues that have lost their loved ones in this heart-breaking tragedy. The whole nation shares the pain of the mothers, fathers, daughters and sons who have lost their loved ones. We are all in grief.”
Zuma said he had ordered government departments to help family members get to Nigeria to identify the bodies of their loved ones, and repatriate the remains as soon as possible.
But as at yesterday, rescuers said 63 bodies had been brought out of the rubble although rescue efforts were ongoing.
Reacting to Zuma’s claim, Southwest spokesman of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Ibrahim Farinloye, said he might be right because they have documented evidence of their members who came to Nigeria for spiritual exercise at SCOAN.
He said: “The South African Ambassador Lulu Louis Mnguni has been coming here. Like I told you earlier, it is an international operation and so we cannot hide anything.
“The various embassies have records of their nationals, their passport numbers, copies of visas, names and other necessary information.
“Why I said they may not be wrong is because we have not concluded rescue operations and we believe more people are trapped in the debris.
“The church told us they suspect that more members are in the rubble but they did not give us figures as to the number of people suspected to still be there.
“The South African Ambassador, who has been meeting with the church, did not disclose anything to us. The church also did not disclose information, so, I cannot tell you if they are wrong or right.
“What I know is that so far, we have recovered 63 bodies and 131 persons have been rescued alive. Rescue operations are still ongoing,” he said.
