Lagos, 13 July 2024 (dpa/MIA) - At least 22 people have died in central Nigeria after a school building collapsed as lessons were taking place, local authorities said on Friday.

Some 130 people are receiving treatment in nearby hospitals, according to the authorities. Most of the victims are students and school employees.

The building is part of the Saint Academy Secondary School in the city of Jos and collapsed during lessons, according to Musa Ibrahim Ashoms, the information and communication officer for the central state of Plateau.

The death toll could potentially rise further, with an estimated 200 students believed to have been in the collapsed section of the building.

Rescue workers were searching through the rubble for any survivors.

The two-storey building collapsed after days of heavy rain in the region. An investigation into the exact causes of the collapse has been launched.

In past years, Nigeria has witnessed several major building collapses resulting in many casualties, often due to poor construction, the use of substandard materials and corruption.

Photo: EPA