Two Dead, 14 Rescued After Old School Building Collapses in Newtown During Church Service
Two people have been confirmed dead and fourteen others rescued after an old school building collapsed in Newtown on Sunday while worshippers were gathered inside for a church service.
The structure, which had reportedly been converted into a makeshift place of worship near the Experimental Junior High School, suddenly gave way, trapping several people under the rubble and triggering panic in the densely populated area.
Personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service, supported by other emergency agencies and local residents, immediately launched a rescue operation. Responders are working against time, relying on faint cries and voices from beneath the debris to locate those still trapped.
Speaking to Citi News, the Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, ADO1 Alex King Nartey, confirmed the details:
“We have one person reported dead, it is a female. She is in her early 30s. Rescue mission is still ongoing. The voices are growing fainter because our officers are relying on people calling for help to trace where people are. For now, people are still down there. We are not sure of the number.”
He later updated that a second victim had been retrieved dead from the rubble, bringing the confirmed death toll to two. He expressed fears that the number could rise as the operation continues.
Fourteen people have so far been successfully rescued and are receiving medical attention.
Authorities have not yet determined the exact number of people who were inside the building at the time of the collapse. Investigations are expected to be launched to establish the cause of the incident and to assess the structural integrity of similar old buildings in the Newtown area.
Rescue teams remain on site, continuing efforts to reach anyone still believed to be trapped under the debris.
This tragic incident has once again highlighted concerns over the safety of converted and ageing structures being used for public gatherings in densely populated parts of Accra.
Our thoughts are with the families of the deceased and those still awaiting news of loved ones.
Source: Ghana National Fire Service statements and Citi News reports
