The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has revealed that its personnel rescued or safely evacuated 479 people during a series of flood, fire, and structural emergencies that occurred across Accra, Tema, and nearby communities over a three-day period.
According to the Service, emergency teams remained on high alert from June 28 to June 30, responding to numerous incidents caused by heavy rainfall, flooding, fire outbreaks, and a building collapse. The operations were carried out in collaboration with other emergency response agencies.
Despite the extensive rescue efforts, five people lost their lives, one person sustained injuries, and another individual remains missing.
The emergency operations began on Sunday, June 28, when firefighters successfully contained two separate fires in Accra without any casualties. One of the incidents occurred at Lartebiokorshie, where a domestic fire destroyed a room and its contents but was prevented from spreading to adjoining sections of the building.
Later that day, firefighters responded to a commercial fire at Labadi Kojo Sardine, where a metal container and its contents were partially damaged. Preliminary investigations indicate that an overcharged solar battery may have caused the outbreak.
At Asutuare Junction, fire officers battled a fuel tanker blaze that completely destroyed the vehicle and its contents. The incident resulted in one death and left another person injured. Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.
Following Monday’s heavy rains, rescue operations intensified across flood-affected communities. At Tse-Ado Last Stop, a joint operation involving the GNFS, Ghana Police Service Marine Unit, National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), and the Ghana Armed Forces rescued 105 people trapped by rising floodwaters, including women, men, and children.
In the Tema Region, firefighters responded to several emergencies, including floods, fires, and fallen trees. Rescue teams saved 12 people from floodwaters and assisted more than 50 residents to safety at Tema Newtown. However, one female trader was reported missing after being swept away by floodwaters near the Tema Community One Market.
Firefighters also responded to a building collapse at Tabora No. 6 in Accra. Fortunately, all 12 occupants had evacuated before the four-storey structure gave way, preventing injuries or fatalities.
On Tuesday, June 30, the GNFS completed large-scale rescue operations in the Adabraka-Odawna area, one of the hardest-hit locations. More than 300 people were rescued from floodwaters during the exercise.
The Service also contained a major fire outbreak at the Odawna Rubber Market near the Kwame Nkrumah Circle. Although several structures were damaged, firefighters successfully prevented the blaze from spreading to nearby properties, and no casualties were reported.
In its summary of the three-day operations, the GNFS confirmed that four people died as a result of flooding, while one person died in the fuel tanker fire. One individual was injured, all occupants of the collapsed building survived, and one person remains missing following the flooding in Tema.
Source: citinewsroom.com
