Dozens dead and wounded after church roof collapses in Nigeria

The roof of a church has collapsed during a packed service in Nigeria, killing at least 60 worshippers and wounding dozens of others, authorities have said.

The bodies of at least 60 victims have been retrieved from the scene in southern city of Uyo in Akwa Ibom state, but the number could rise as debris is removed, a rescue worker said.

The Reigners Bible Church was reportedly still under construction when it was being used for a ceremony to ordain a bishop.

Witnesses said hundreds of people were inside when metal girders crashed and the corrugated iron roof caved in.

Udom Emmanuel, governor of Akwa Ibom, was attending the service at the time.

He said: "It's not a good thing. We are really, really devastated that this could happen.

But at the same time, I pray that people should be calm and let's at least say that the situation, let's see the causalities that we have and then be rest assured on the part of government we will do everything possible to make sure that this will never happen again in this state."

Governor spokesman Ekerete Udoh said the state government will hold an inquiry to investigate if building standards were compromised.

Buildings collapse regularly in Nigeria because of endemic corruption with contractors using sub-standard materials and bribing inspectors to ignore shoddy work or a lack of building permits.

In 2014, 116 people died when a multistorey guesthouse of the Synagogue Church of All Nations collapsed in Lagos.