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Death toll in twin fire, flood disaster hits 200

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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

Kofi Oppong Kyekyeku

I am a Ghanaian Broadcast Journalist/Writer who has an interest in General News, Sports, Entertainment, Health, Lifestyle and many more.

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