Key facts
- Floods and landslides triggered by torrential rain in Ghana and Ivory Coast have killed at least 24 people.
- In Ghana, at least 12 deaths were confirmed, including a mother and child swept away.
- In Ivory Coast, more than a dozen people died, with nine reportedly trapped under rubble in Abidjan.
- Emergency services in Accra faced significant access challenges, requiring military assistance.
- The Ghana Meteorological Agency has forecast additional rainfall for the week.
Torrential rains have caused severe flooding and landslides in Ghana and Ivory Coast, resulting in at least 24 confirmed deaths, authorities reported Tuesday. Emergency workers continued efforts to rescue hundreds of stranded residents from submerged buildings in both capital cities.
In Ghana's capital, Accra, and the nearby city of Tema, entire buildings and roads were submerged, cutting off access to several areas. At least 12 people have died in Ghana, including a mother and child who were swept away. In Ivory Coast's capital, Abidjan, several days of rain led to flooding that claimed more than a dozen lives, primarily in the municipalities of Attécoubé and Yopougon. Local media reported at least nine deaths in Abidjan's Mossikro neighborhood after residents were trapped under rubble.
Emergency services in Accra described access to affected areas as a significant challenge, necessitating military assistance. Several neighborhoods remained partially flooded on Tuesday morning. The Ghana Meteorological Agency has advised residents to prepare for continued rainfall this week.
Deadly floods are a recurring issue in parts of Africa, a region highly susceptible to extreme weather events despite contributing minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the World Meteorological Organization.