At least three people have died after torrential rains triggered severe flooding across Ghana’s capital, Accra, inundating homes, cutting off major roads, and prompting emergency rescue operations, authorities said.
Emergency response teams rescued dozens of residents trapped by rising floodwaters, including children and an infant, as neighborhoods across the city were overwhelmed by hours of heavy rainfall. Several vehicles were also stranded as floodwaters submerged key transport routes.
Authorities urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from flood-prone areas, warning that additional rainfall forecast in the coming days could worsen conditions and increase the risk of further flooding.
The flooding disrupted transport and daily activities in several parts of Accra, with roads becoming impassable and emergency crews working to assist affected communities.
Seasonal flooding is a recurring challenge in Ghana, particularly in Accra, where rapid urbanization, inadequate drainage systems, and the construction of buildings on waterways have increased the city’s vulnerability to heavy rainfall. Climate experts have also warned that increasingly intense weather events linked to climate change are heightening flood risks across West Africa.
Emergency officials continue to assess the extent of the damage while monitoring water levels in flood-prone communities. Authorities have urged residents living in low-lying areas to remain vigilant and follow evacuation instructions where necessary as rescue operations continue.
The latest flooding adds to a series of deadly weather-related disasters that have affected several West African countries in recent years, underscoring growing concerns over urban resilience and disaster preparedness in the face of increasingly extreme rainfall.
