Nigeria school collapse kills at least 16 students

Trapped students cried for help under the rubble after the Saint Academy school in Jos North district of Plateau State fell in on classrooms.

Parents desperately looked for their children as rescue workers tried to reach the victims with heavy machinery. Images from the scene showed crowds gathering round a caved-in concrete building and heaps of debris.

Officials have so far only said "several students" were killed but an AFP reporter saw five dead bodies in one hospital morgue and 11 in another. All were wearing school uniforms.

The National Emergency Management Agency said the two-storey building housing Saint Academy collapsed killing "several students."

It said it had completed the search and rescue operation and would provide details later.

At least 15 rescued and injured students were admitted, officials at the Our Lady of Apostles Hospital said.

Officials at the Bingham University Teaching Hospital did not comment.

It was not immediately clear what caused the collapse but residents said it came after three days of heavy rains in Plateau.