By Edward Acquah, GNA
Accra, June 29, GNA – Emergency response agencies have intensified rescue operations across flood-hit communities in the Greater Accra Region as the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) forecasts continuous rainfall throughout Monday.
The Agency said the rains, triggered by a slow-moving storm system from Togo, were expected to persist into the afternoon, with heavier downpours likely along coastal communities before easing later in the day.
Mr Frederick Cudjoe, Senior Meteorologist at GMet, said the rainstorm would continue over the Greater Accra, Volta, Eastern and Central Regions before extending westwards.
”The propagation of this rainstorm is very slow, so we anticipate continuous rains of varying intensities through to the afternoon,” he said in an interview monitored by the Ghana News Agency.
Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, Minister for the Interior, urged the public to avoid unnecessary movement and work from home where possible, warning that weather conditions could worsen.
”Let’s work to save many more lives and make sure that people do not unnecessarily risk their lives,” he said.
The Minister said all emergency response agencies had been directed to operate as one coordinated team rather than in isolation.
He said emergency responders, including the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the Ghana Armed Forces, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana National Fire Service and the National Ambulance Service, had commenced rescue operations.
Lieutenant Colonel Frank Osei Amponsah, Commanding Officer of the 48 Engineer Regiment, said the military had activated Operation Bongo, its disaster response operation, and deployed rescue teams to Klagon, Chorkor and Dzorwulu.
He said the teams had so far responded to three distress calls and were continuing evacuation and rescue operations, adding that additional deployments would be made as the situation demanded.
Mr Richard Amo Yartey, Director of the Inspectorate Unit at NADMO, said the organisation was working closely with the military, police, fire and ambulance services to respond to emergency calls across the capital.
He advised motorists against driving through floodwaters and urged residents in safe locations to remain indoors until conditions improved.
”If you are being submerged by floodwaters, call the emergency numbers and a rescue effort will be on the way,” he said.
Emergency services have urged the public to call 112 or NADMO’s emergency lines for assistance.
Heavy rains on Monday morning caused widespread flooding across parts of Accra, trapping residents in their homes, submerging several communities and rendering major roads impassable.
A video sighted by the Ghana News Agency showed residents swimming through neck-deep floodwaters to rescue trapped neighbours from submerged houses.
There were also reports of a fire outbreak at Odorna, near the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, although the cause and extent of the incident were not immediately known.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Edward Acquah
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