In Nigeria’s central Plateau state, a school building collapse has resulted in the deaths of 22 children and injuries to more than 130 others, according to local officials.

The tragedy occurred at Saint Academy in Jos, the state capital, while students were in class. Volunteers, using excavators and their bare hands, worked to rescue trapped children from the rubble.

The school, with over 1,000 pupils, collapsed after three days of heavy rain. Injured student Wulliya Ibrahim described hearing a sound shortly after entering the classroom for an exam before finding himself in the hospital.

The cause of the collapse remains unknown. The incident has drawn widespread grief, with Unicef Nigeria representative Cristian Munduate expressing condolences, the Associated Press has reported.

Building collapses are not uncommon in Nigeria, often attributed to poor construction practices and corruption.

Written by B.C. Begley