| Date | 10 December 2016 |
|---|---|
| Location | Uyo, Nigeria |
| Cause | Under investigation |
| Deaths | 27 to 160 [1] |
On 10 December 2016, the roof of the Reigners Bible Church International, an evangelical congregation, collapsed in Uyo, a city in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, during the consecration or ordination of the local bishop. [2] [3] At least 23 people are confirmed to have died in the disaster, with other reports stating numbers as high as 160. [2] [4] Thousands were present at the time of collapse, including government officials and Akwa Ibom governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel. [3] [5]
At approximately 11 a.m., thirty minutes into the church's Saturday morning programme, the building's roof collapsed from the centre. [6] The church had been under construction until shortly before the incident, with some reports stating that work was unfinished at the time of collapse. [7] The construction had been rushed to prepare the church for the ordination of the local bishop. [2] Varying numbers of deaths were reported. The News Agency of Nigeria reported that there were 60 victims, [3] and a rescue official stated that 60 bodies had been retrieved. [5] More than 100 bodies had been seen at the local morgue, and staff at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital reported 160 killed. [2]