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The death toll in the twin fire, flood disaster has hit 200 with some
relatives still desperately searching for their loved ones.
Torrential rains Wednesday night left Accra in crisis as dozens
drowned in a sea of flood that washed away humans, properties, pulled
down houses and left tunnels, drains choked with debris.
In the midst of the storm, tens of passengers, drivers, petrol station
attendants were also burnt to death in a horrifying fire incident at
the Goil Filling Station close to the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra.
Most of the deceased persons were seeking refuge at the filling
station and houses and shops nearby but were burnt to death when an
explosion occurred at the station.
Charred bodies were retrieved from the scene of the fire but the
devastation left behind by the fire will take days or even weeks if
not months to repair.
Hospitals have been flooded, not by rainwater but by human bodies
driven in several vehicles and dumped at the various morgues.
The 37 Military Hospital has taken 65 dead bodies with 35 survivors on
admission at the Intensive CareUnit of the hospital.
Hospital officials say they are sad about the incident but not overwhelmed.
Joy News' Matilda Wemegah who was at the 37 Military Hospital said
lots of people who have besieged the hospital are still in a confused
state.
They have looked at the surviving victims at the intensive care units,
the morgue but still cannot locate their lost relatives.
According to them, the lost relatives cannot be contacted. All their
phones are off.They can't tell if they are alive or dead but they fear
the worse.
Meanwhile, rescue efforts are over. Security officers are busy
cleaning the debris left behind by the flood and fire.
So far, five cars swept by the floods from unknown destinations and
which were trapped in a drain behind the Paloma Restaurant have been
pulled out by the Military.Quite a number of vehicles are yet to be
salvaged, the military officials told Joy News Latiff Iddrisu.
Meanwhile, officials are said to be planning a national response
strategy to ameliorate the impact of the disaster.
President John Mahama has described the incident as"catastrophic,
almost unprecedented."
After touring some of the worst-hit areas, the president said, "we
shouldn't continue to behave like the vultures," who would promise to
cover its roof but fail to do so once the rain season is over.
He called for a change in attitude by all Ghanaians.
The flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party, Nana Akufo-Addo,
described the disaster as the "dark moment" in the history of the
capital.
In the wake of the visitation by political players, the Bureau of
Public Safety says in memory of the lost souls practical steps must be
taken to solve this perennial problem once and for all.
He said officials must with urgencydesilt all drains in Accra and
demolish all structures in water courses.
Credit: Myjoyonline.com
