Key facts
- Torrential rains triggered floods and landslides in Ghana and Ivory Coast.
- At least 24 people have died in total.
- Ghana has confirmed 12 deaths, including a child.
- Ivory Coast has reported over a dozen deaths, with nine reportedly trapped under rubble.
- Rescue operations are ongoing, with military support deployed in Ghana.
- Additional rainfall is forecast for Ghana this 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. The Ghana National Fire Service stated that three of the victims were women, eight were men, and one was a child. More than 470 people have been rescued so far.
Preliminary data showed about 140 millimeters of rain had fallen on Accra, President John Dramani Mahama said, adding it was the highest rainfall recorded in years. He noted that the scale of rainfall was driven by changing climate conditions and was beyond the government's control. Poor drainage, unauthorized construction on waterways, and inadequate urban planning are routinely cited as factors worsening the impact of heavy rains in Accra.
In Ivory Coast's capital, Abidjan, several days of rain led to flooding that claimed more than a dozen lives, with a source close to firefighters and the interior minister stating it was around 20. 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.
In a statement on Tuesday, the government spokesperson said 300 million cedis ($27 million) would be released for flood relief efforts. Mahama also ordered the deployment of Ghana Armed Forces and police personnel to support the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and other security services in rescue and relief operations across the capital.