S’Africa sends plane to convey Synagogue tragedy survivors

The South African government has said it would send an aircraft to Lagos to evacuate survivors of the collapsed building at the Synagogue Church for All Nations, South African Sunday Independent reports.

Eighty-six South Africans reportedly lost their lives in the tragedy.

South African officials were quoted as saying on Saturday that the aircraft to fetch the survivors would arrive in Nigeria on Sunday.

The officials also said that the corpses of the dead victims would remain in Nigeria for identification by forensic experts.


They added that the plane, which will carry medical personnel, would remain briefly on the ground in Lagos to load the injured South Africans before returning home.

It is believed that at least 30 South Africans are in hospitals in the Lagos. “They are apparently under guard by security employed by SCOAN,” the South African paper said.

South Africa has however mobilised a massive effort to deal with the aftermath of the tragedy.

Apart from sending in forensic experts to deal with the bodies, government has also sent in doctors to treat the injured and counsellors to help the injured and their families.

Social workers are also at OR Tambo to support families waiting for injured relatives.

South Africa’s intervention comes more than a week after the fatal event that has claimed 84 South African lives.

At the time a total of 349 South Africans were in Lagos on matters connected to the church when the building collapsed.