CAPE COAST — One person has been confirmed dead, while several others sustained serious injuries after a building collapsed at Tantri in the Cape Coast Metropolis following more than nine hours of continuous heavy rainfall.
The tragic incident occurred on Friday after prolonged rains battered Cape Coast and surrounding communities, causing widespread flooding across parts of the metropolis.
However, residents say the area where the building collapsed was not flooded. According to eyewitness accounts, the building, which is situated close to a hill, was struck by a large volume of soil and debris that gave way after the persistent rainfall. The movement of the earth reportedly weakened the structure, leading to its collapse.
Speaking to Asorba Media, eyewitness Brother Kobina said the collapse occurred after hours of heavy rainfall had loosened the soil on the nearby hillside.
«”The area was not flooded, but because the building is very close to the hill, a large amount of soil came down after the rain and hit the structure. Shortly after, the building collapsed,” Brother Kobina recounted.»
Rescue efforts began immediately as residents, emergency personnel, and volunteers rushed to the scene to assist victims trapped beneath the rubble. One person was pronounced dead, while several others who sustained severe injuries were transported to health facilities for urgent medical attention.
Officials from the Ghana National Fire Service, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), and the Ghana Police Service have been deployed to the scene to support rescue operations and assess the extent of the damage.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of buildings located near hillsides and erosion-prone areas, particularly during periods of prolonged rainfall. Residents are calling on authorities to conduct structural assessments of vulnerable buildings to prevent similar disasters.
Investigations into the exact cause of the collapse are ongoing, while authorities continue to monitor conditions in affected communities across the Cape Coast Metropolis.
Asorba Media will continue to provide updates as more details emerge.
By Frank Kofi Essuman
