In brief
Three individuals, including two women and a man, have died following the collapse of an unfinished three-storey building that was hosting a church service in Accra, Ghana. Emergency response teams rescued 20 others, predominantly women and children, who are now receiving medical care. Eyewitness accounts reveal concerns over the building's structural integrity and the ongoing use of such unsafe facilities for public gatherings. Investigations are underway to ascertain the cause of the collapse, which has reignited debates about construction standards in Ghana.
Three people, two women and a man, have been confirmed dead after a three-storey building that was being used as a church collapsed on worshippers in the Ghanaian capital, Accra. Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak reported that 20 others, mostly women and children, had been rescued and are receiving treatment in various hospitals. He stated there was '90-95% certainty that we no longer have any persons [trapped].'
Emergency teams worked tirelessly through the night under floodlights, searching for victims among the ruins. The cause of the building's collapse, which coincided with heavy rains, remains unknown. Investigations are currently underway.
The building itself, which had been part of a school in Accra's New Town area, had remained unfinished for several years, yet locals reported that it was being utilized for church services.
'What we can say is that there was a total of 23 people... It's a very sad day for all of us,' Mohammed-Mubarak commented, acknowledging the challenge in accurately determining the number of individuals present during the incident.
Earlier reports indicated two deaths and 14 rescues, but the minister clarified that the revised figure had been cross-checked with various sources.
Rescue efforts have garnered praise for their efficiency, with images from the national fire service showcasing emergency responders at the scene surrounded by a concerned crowd.
Witnesses recounted hearing cries for help from beneath the rubble, describing the unfinished structure as poorly constructed with minimal maintenance since its inception.
'Everybody in the community knows the building is very weak, yet they allowed services and activities inside,' remarked an eyewitness. Operations to search for any remaining worshippers continue, with debris removal underway.
This tragic incident has reignited discussions around the structural integrity of buildings in Ghana, evoking memories of the 2012 collapse of a multi-storey shopping center attributed to similar concerns over poor construction.
