The death toll from Monday's devastating floods that swept through large parts of the Greater Accra Region has risen to nine, according to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), as emergency responders continue search, rescue and recovery operations in affected communities.
The latest figures were confirmed by the Service following hours of torrential rainfall that submerged homes, businesses and major roads across the capital, leaving thousands stranded and causing widespread destruction.
Speaking on SweetFMOnline, a member of the Public Relations Department of the GNFS, Alex King Nartey, said the Service had verified nine flood-related deaths based on reports from personnel deployed to the disaster zones.
"So at this time now, the confirmable or confirmed figures that I have, the only case is in the case of about nine people," he said.
Mr. Nartey noted that while reports of additional fatalities had emerged from other locations, the Fire Service would only comment on deaths that had been officially confirmed by officers on the ground.
"I'm hearing there are other deaths in other places. As of now, from my men on the ground," he added.
Emergency Teams Intensify Rescue Efforts
The confirmation comes as emergency response agencies continue to search for survivors and assist residents trapped by rising floodwaters.
Personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the Ghana Police Service and other emergency agencies have been deployed across flood-hit communities to rescue stranded residents, evacuate vulnerable persons and assist motorists whose vehicles became submerged.
Several roads across Accra were rendered impassable after drains overflowed, disrupting traffic and forcing many drivers to abandon their vehicles as floodwaters rapidly engulfed key transport corridors.
Among the worst-affected areas were Alajo, Circle, Kaneshie, Odaw, Adabraka, Achimota, Weija, Madina, Adenta, Lapaz and sections of the Spintex Road, where businesses and transport services were severely disrupted.
At the Circle transport terminal, floodwaters submerged several commercial vehicles, leaving drivers and their assistants stranded on the roofs of buses as they waited for water levels to subside.
The floods also disrupted activities in several public institutions. The University of Ghana suspended lectures and advised students to remain indoors, while the Ghana School of Law postponed scheduled examinations over safety concerns.
Renewed Calls for Flood Mitigation
The latest tragedy has reignited concerns over Accra's recurring flooding problem, with residents calling for lasting solutions, including improved drainage infrastructure, stricter enforcement against developments on waterways and more effective waste management.
Authorities have continued to urge the public to avoid flooded roads and waterways, follow safety instructions from emergency responders and promptly report incidents requiring assistance.
As rescue teams continue operations and assess the full extent of the destruction, officials caution that the casualty figure could rise as more information emerges from communities still recovering from one of the capital's most severe flood disasters in recent years.
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