Metro View Hotel, a popular hotel in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state, has collapsed with 60 persons escaping death.
Chief Austine Orji, a member of the hotel management, stated that the building collapsed while renovation was ongoing. He said the renovation began after they noticed some cracks on the pillars holding the building.
The hotel which is located close to Presco Campus of Ebonyi State University, was cordoned off before the renovation started. Orji also stated that all those who lodged in the hotel were not in the building which collapsed. According to him, they were outside the building having a seminar when the collapse happened, therefore no life was lost.
A closure of the affected hotel has been ordered by the governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi, through the Special Assistant (SA) on Capital Territory.
The hotel which was commissioned in 2005 by former governor Martin Elechi will remain sealed until investigations are concluded on the cause of collapse.