The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has announced that its personnel rescued or safely evacuated 479 people during a three-day emergency response operation as torrential rains, floods, fires and a building collapse affected parts of Accra, Tema and surrounding communities.
The operations, carried out between Sunday, June 28, and Tuesday, June 30, saw firefighters working alongside other emergency agencies to respond to dozens of incidents.
Despite the extensive rescue efforts, five people lost their lives, one person sustained injuries and another remains missing.
The Service said its personnel remained on high alert throughout the period, responding to multiple fire outbreaks, flood emergencies and structural incidents across the Greater Accra Region.
Firefighters Battle Blazes Across Greater Accra
Emergency operations began on Sunday with firefighters containing two separate fires in Accra without any injuries or fatalities.
At Lartebiokorshie, personnel from the Industrial Area Fire Station brought a domestic fire under control within 25 minutes, preventing the blaze from spreading beyond one room and saving adjoining sections of the building.
Later the same day, firefighters from the Trade Fair Fire Station extinguished a commercial fire at Labadi Kojo Sardine. Preliminary investigations indicate that an overcharged solar panel battery may have triggered the incident.
Elsewhere, four fire tenders battled a burning fuel tanker at Asutuare Junction. Although firefighters contained the inferno, the tanker and its contents were completely destroyed. One person died while another sustained injuries and was rushed to hospital. Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.
Flood Rescue Operations Intensify
Following Monday's heavy rainfall, the GNFS intensified flood rescue operations with support from the Ghana Police Service Marine Unit, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the Ghana Armed Forces.
At Tse-Ado Last Stop, rescue teams evacuated 105 people trapped by rising floodwaters, including 45 children, 40 women and 20 men.
In the Tema Region, firefighters responded to 23 emergency incidents within 24 hours, comprising six fire outbreaks, eight flood emergencies and seven cases involving fallen trees. Rescue teams also saved 12 people from floodwaters and assisted more than 50 residents to safety at Tema Newtown.
However, the Service confirmed that a female trader remains missing after being swept away by floodwaters near the Tema Community One Market.
Building Collapse and Odawna Market Fire
Firefighters also responded to a structural emergency at Tabora No. 6 after a four-storey building collapsed. Fortunately, all 12 occupants had evacuated before the structure gave way, preventing injuries or fatalities.
By Tuesday morning, emergency teams had completed extensive rescue operations within the Adabraka and Odawna corridor, one of the areas hardest hit by flooding. More than 300 people were rescued during the operation.
The GNFS also brought a major fire at the Odawna Rubber Market near Kwame Nkrumah Circle under control. Although several structures were damaged, firefighters prevented the blaze from spreading to nearby properties.
No casualties were recorded, and a fire appliance has been stationed at the scene to guard against possible re-ignition.
Summarising the three-day operations, the Service reported four flood-related deaths and one fire-related fatality, bringing the total death toll to five.
While one person remains missing, the successful rescue of 479 people highlights the coordinated efforts of emergency responders to protect lives and minimise the impact of one of the most challenging weather events to hit the capital this year.
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