Lack of equipment has hampered rescue efforts at the collapsed Swizz International Hotel building along Woji Road, Port Harcourt.
The 7-storey Hotel came crashing down Friday afternoon, killing six persons with 36 persons rescued so far according to government sources.
The building under construction employed over 50 persons with an unknown estimate of workers still trapped under the rubble. Rescue work is on but at a much slower pace, theportcitynews observed.
However, theportcitynews investigation revealed that less work is ongoing due to the unavailability of equipment to lift heavy concrete pillars from the collapsed building.
Building engineers told theportcitynews that with the pace of rescue effort currently going on at the site, it will take at least four months for the site to be cleared and the concretes to be lifted.
This also means that workers trapped under the rubble will possibly not be rescued alive during the delay period.
Rivers State Governor upon arrival from France yesterday ordered the arrest of the owner of the building and other persons responsible. He also ordered a full investigation into the incident.
However, observers say arresting the people responsible is immaterial at the moment as the most important thing is to rescue persons still trapped under the rubble.
They said that companies like Intels and Julius Berger have this equipment and urged the government to seek help from them.
All though there are blame games flying as some politicians have blamed the Rivers State urban development authority for not keeping to standard and cutting corners.
The proponent of this theory, Victoria Nyeche, said the regulatory agencies obviously failed in their respective responsibilities to monitor work being done at the site but, however, called on spirited individuals to help with rescue efforts.
