At least 13 people have lost their lives after heavy rainfall triggered widespread flooding across Accra, the capital of Ghana, with authorities warning that another powerful storm could worsen the situation.
Rescue operations are still ongoing as emergency officials continue to assess the full extent of the disaster. The Ghana National Fire Service said the number of casualties could rise as more affected areas become accessible.
Although floodwaters from the downpour that began on Sunday night have started to recede in some locations, many communities remain severely affected. Several low lying neighborhoods experienced extensive damage, with homes, vehicles and other properties submerged by the rising water.
Videos circulating online captured the scale of the destruction, showing flooded streets, damaged buildings and stranded residents waiting for assistance.
Emergency personnel drawn from the police, fire service, military and the National Disaster Management Organization have been deployed to support rescue efforts and protect lives and property in the affected communities.
The Interior Ministry said security and emergency agencies are working together to monitor developments while ensuring the safety of residents.
According to the Ghana National Fire Service, more than 470 people have already been rescued since the flooding began. The disaster also sparked a major fire at a rubber factory within the city, creating an additional emergency for response teams.
Many residents remain trapped inside their homes as floodwaters continue to block roads and access routes. The government has urged people living in vulnerable areas to move to safer locations and avoid travelling through flooded streets.
In a public advisory, the office of President John Mahama appealed to residents to remain indoors if they were already in safe places. The statement also warned against attempting to cross flooded roads on foot or by vehicle, while urging anyone whose home was under threat to move immediately to higher ground and contact emergency services through the national emergency number.
President Mahama revealed that preliminary weather data showed Accra received about 140 millimeters of rainfall during the storm. He noted that the highest amount recorded in a single day last year was about 56 millimeters, describing the sharp increase as another indication of the growing impact of climate change.
The Ghana Meteorological Agency has forecast more rainfall across southern Ghana, including Accra, from Tuesday morning through the afternoon. The agency warned that the additional rainfall could trigger fresh flooding and advised residents to stay away from trees, exposed electrical wires and floodwaters.
Accra, home to more than four million people according to the World Health Organization, has witnessed rapid urban growth in recent years, a development that has increased pressure on its drainage infrastructure.
Several residents have shared heartbreaking accounts of their losses. One resident, Philip Mensah, said floodwaters invaded his home and destroyed his treasured collection of vinyl records dating back to the 1970s.
A schoolteacher, Patience Naa Adjeley Adjei, also described her struggle to keep floodwater out of her room, saying she had repeatedly removed water without success because both her home and the surrounding environment remained submerged.
The Ghana Grid Company Limited and the Electricity Company of Ghana temporarily disconnected electricity supply to several affected parts of the capital as a safety measure.
The two organizations explained that floodwaters had affected power facilities at several substations, creating serious risks to electrical equipment and personnel working in the area.
Reports that flooding has remained a recurring challenge in Accra, largely due to inadequate drainage systems, blocked gutters and the construction of illegal buildings along natural waterways. President Mahama said the careless actions of a few individuals continue to expose entire communities to unnecessary danger.
