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LAGOS, March 14-- The death toll from the collapse of a three-storey building which housed a primary school in Lagos, Nigeria's economic hub, has risen to 18, as more bodies were recovered in the early hours of Thursday. Commissioner for health in Lagos, Jide Idris, told reporters that 18 people had been confirmed dead and more than 60 rescued. Although rescue operation has ended, Idris said medical workers were still working to stabilize some of the victims. According to the official, it was difficult to give an official figure of casualties now as the list of dead and injured victims was still being compiled. At least three general hospitals and a children hospital in Lagos are currently treating victims of the collapsed building. Medical workers earlier confirmed to Xinhua that 12 pupils, a pregnant woman, and the proprietress of the school were killed following the collapse. Adesina Tiamiyu, head of the state emergency management agency, said rescue operation was brought to a halt at 3 a.m. local time on Thursday. However, local residents have insisted that the operation must continue as they suspected that more victims were still trapped underneath the rubble. Security operatives have cordoned off the area, preventing residents and people still searching for their loved ones to go near the rubble. The collapsed building housed a school which had up to 172 registered pupils. | 
