Personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) have recovered the body of one of the individuals trapped beneath the rubble of the collapsed building near Melcom Plus at Avenor in Accra, marking the first confirmed fatality in the tragic incident. According to reports from the scene, emergency responders continue to search for additional victims who may still be trapped under the debris.
The three-storey structure, located opposite the Ashfoam showroom and adjacent to Melcom Plus, collapsed in the early hours of Sunday, triggering a major rescue operation involving the GNFS, the Ghana Police Service, and other security agencies. Initial reports indicated that at least two people had been rescued and rushed to hospital, with one said to be in critical condition.
Accra Mayor, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, confirmed the recovery of the deceased victim and stated that rescue teams remain on site working tirelessly to locate others feared trapped beneath the collapsed structure. Heavy-duty equipment has been deployed to assist in removing large concrete slabs and twisted metal obstructing access to potential survivors.
Eyewitnesses described hearing a loud crash shortly before dawn before discovering that the building had completely caved in. The incident has once again raised concerns about building safety standards and regulatory enforcement, coming just days after another fatal building collapse in Adenta.
Authorities have cordoned off the area and urged members of the public to stay away from the site to allow rescue personnel to carry out their operations safely and efficiently. Investigations into the cause of the collapse are expected to begin once rescue efforts have been concluded.
NewsNest Ghana will continue to provide updates as rescue operations progress and officials release further details on the tragedy. 🚨🏗️🕊️
