Floods kill three in Accra, disrupt Lagos

Torrential rains triggered severe flooding across Ghana’s capital, Accra, on Monday, killing at least three people, authorities said.

Emergency crews used boats to rescue trapped residents, including at least 15 children and an infant, as floodwaters submerged homes, roads and vehicles.

Authorities said one man drowned in the Alajo district, while two others were electrocuted after floodwaters came into contact with electrical wiring inside their home. Some 140 millimetres of rain fell on the city in a single day, “the highest experienced in several years” and nearly triple last year’s high, President John Mahama said. He blamed climate change and unchecked urbanisation for the disaster.

The government urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel as police, firefighters and the military continued rescue operations. Forecasters warned more heavy rain was expected, raising fears of further flooding in Accra, where rapid urbanisation and poor drainage have made seasonal floods increasingly destructive.

In neighbouring Nigeria, heavy rainfall on Sunday left many parts of Lagos under water, flooding major roads and residential communities. The flooding disrupted traffic and forced the temporary closure of a terminal at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Airport authorities said flight operations had since resumed. No deaths were reported in Lagos.

SOURCE: MRA