Collapsing building kills three in Kumasi

Three people were killed and three others injured, when part of a three-storey building collapsed at Krofrom-Sofo-Abodwese in Kumasi, on Monday night.

The deceased were identified as Josephine alias “Maame Joe”, 28, Georgina, 40, and Anita Dufie Agyemang, 28.

The injured were rushed to the Tafo Government Hospital where they were treated and discharged.

Josephine and Anita were tenants in the house, but Georgina had visited a friend, when part of the house (the porch) of the last floor tumbled.

Personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) managed to remove the bodies of Josephine and Georgina, shortly on arrival at the scene.

Assistant Station Officer John Dankwah of the Manhyia Fire Station told the Ghana News Agency that fire service personnel received a distress call at about 2100 hours and quickly responded.

He said they were joined by personnel of the National Disaster Management Organization  and the police, and  the rescue operation was hampered by power outage in the area at the time due to the on-going load shedding.

The body of Anita could not be pulled from the rubble until at about 0950 hours on Tuesday morning.

Madam Elizabeth Ansah, an occupant of the house and an eye witness, said the tragedy struck at about 2030 hours.

She said there had earlier been a downpour and many of the tenants had locked themselves up in their rooms and   all of a sudden, a deafening sound was heard as the porch caved in.

The police did not divulge any details about the calamity but indicated that investigations into the matter had started.

Source: GNA