The Reigners Bible Church International in Uyo, in the Akawa Ibom state, was still under construction when the crowded service was held. Workers had been hustling to prepare it in time for the ceremony to ordain founder Akan Weeks as a bishop, when the disaster occurred.
According to chief medical director of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Etete Peters, the death toll could exceed 200.
"Many victims are in private hospitals and mortuaries scattered all over Uyo metropolis; we can't really tell how many people have died so far. We have over 200 persons in the mortuaries. We do not have space, as people are still being brought in," he said as quoted by YNaija.com.
1. As a party we are deeply touched by the very sad incidence that occurred yesterday at Reigners Bible Church. pic.twitter.com/YvvDJb0ggg
— PDP Akwa Ibom State (@PdpAkwaIbom) 11 декабря 2016 г.
The building collapsed from the middle, witnesses reported. The final death toll is feared to be higher.
I was present at the church during the incident and shared in the agony of the moment.#Udom Emmanuel pic.twitter.com/NMAlDzNCYL
— Udom Emmanuel (@MrUdomEmmanuel) 10 декабря 2016 г.