A Sunday morning worship service turned into a scene of devastation in Accra after a three-story building gave way, claiming the lives of three congregants.
The victims, identified as two women and one man, were trapped when the unfinished structure in Accra New Town collapsed following a period of heavy rainfall.
Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak confirmed that while three lives were lost, emergency teams successfully pulled 20 survivors from the debris.
The majority of those rescued were women and children, all of whom are currently receiving medical attention at local hospitals.
Search and rescue operations continued throughout the night, with crews working under floodlights to comb through the wreckage.
The Minister expressed a high degree of confidence roughly 90% to 95% that no further victims remained trapped under the concrete.
”It’s a very sad day for all of us,” Mohammed-Mubarak stated, noting that a total of 23 individuals were believed to be inside the building when it failed.
While the official cause of the disaster remains under investigation, locals and eyewitnesses have pointed to the building’s poor condition.
Although it functioned as part of the Accra New Town Experimental School and a temporary place of worship, the structure had reportedly remained unfinished for several years.
Residents claimed the building was known to be “weak,” yet it continued to host large gatherings.
The collapse occurred shortly after intense rains, which may have compromised the already unstable foundation.
The incident has sparked renewed outrage and debate across the country regarding building safety standards and the lack of maintenance for aging or incomplete structures.
Witnesses described a harrowing scene, reporting that they could hear the muffled cries of those trapped beneath the rubble before rescuers arrived.
The Minister commended the rapid response of the ambulance and fire services, whose coordination helped prevent a higher death toll.
As debris clearing continues, authorities are expected to provide a formal report on the building’s permit status and the potential negligence of its owners.
By 1960news.com
