A major rescue operation by the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has ended with four people rescued alive and one person feared dead after a residential building collapsed at Adenta New Site in the Greater Accra Region.
The incident occurred during a heavy downpour on Wednesday evening when a two-storey apartment building near Da Yesu Ase Supermarket suddenly gave way, trapping several occupants beneath the rubble.
According to the GNFS, a distress call was received at 6:36 p.m., prompting the immediate deployment of rescue teams from the National Headquarters, supported by personnel from the Legon and Abelemkpe Fire Stations. Emergency responders rushed to the scene and began a painstaking search and rescue operation.
Initial reports suggested multiple casualties and trapped occupants as residents and first responders worked frantically to save those buried beneath the collapsed structure.
The fire service said a total of five people, made up of three adults and two children, were trapped when the building collapsed. The victims were identified as Margaret Kpeli, Fred Atagba, Solomon, Seyeram Dzigda, and David Dzigda.
After several hours of intensive rescue efforts, emergency personnel successfully pulled four victims from the rubble alive. The survivors, identified as Fred Atagba, Solomon, Seyeram Dzigda and David Dzigda, sustained injuries and were transported to the 37 Military Hospital for medical treatment.
Rescuers also managed to save a dog that had been trapped inside the collapsed building. The animal was recovered alive during the operation.
However, the operation ended on a tragic note. The remaining victim, Margaret Kpeli, was eventually retrieved from beneath the debris in an unconscious condition. She was subsequently handed over to the Adenta District Police for preservation and further investigations, with reports indicating she is feared dead.
The rescue mission continued through the night and was officially concluded at 10:54 p.m. after emergency teams completed a thorough search of the site.
In a statement following the operation, the GNFS commended residents who assisted during the initial stages of the rescue and expressed appreciation to all agencies that contributed to the emergency response.
The service specifically acknowledged the efforts of personnel from the National Headquarters, Legon Fire Station, Abelemkpe Fire Station, the Ghana Police Service, medical teams and other supporting agencies whose coordinated intervention helped save lives.
The collapse has once again raised concerns about building safety, structural integrity and the impact of heavy rainfall on vulnerable structures in parts of Accra. Authorities are expected to investigate the cause of the collapse and determine whether any structural defects or regulatory breaches contributed to the disaster.
For residents of Adenta, the incident serves as another reminder of the dangers posed by extreme weather conditions and the need for stricter enforcement of building standards to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
