A three-story building collapsed on a primary school in Lagos, Nigeria shortly after the day’s classes had begun, sparking fears that many children were killed or are trapped beneath the rubble.

The collapse happened at around 10am local time on Wednesday. The latest reports based on eyewitness testimony indicate that at least eight children have been pulled from the rubble so far as rescue workers scramble to save lives. Many more are feared dead, as the school is believed to have as many as 100 pupils.

BREAKING NEWS!!!Ongoing rescue operations by the Lagos State Rescue Unit at the collapsed building at Ita-faji, Lagos Island. #LRU#LASGpic.twitter.com/LtW2pfxybT — The Lagos State Govt (@followlasg) March 13, 2019

Hundreds of concerned residents flooded the area in the immediate aftermath of the collapse as rescue workers began removing rubble.

"It is believed that many people including children are currently trapped in the building," Ibrahim Farinloye, spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency, said as cited by Reuters.

The building contained residential apartments on the other two floors, and the cause of the collapse remains unclear.

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