Cape Coast Building Collapse Claims One Life, Another Injured
A house collapsed in Cape Coast, killing one and injuring another. The incident, occurring while occupants slept, marks a second collapse in a week. Mayor Arthur is responding with plans for demolition of unsafe buildings and offers of support to victims.
In a tragic incident early Wednesday morning, a family house in Amisakyir, Cape Coast, collapsed, resulting in one death and another person hospitalized. The mud structure collapsed around 2:00 AM while its occupants were asleep, leaving two individuals trapped beneath the rubble. This disaster marks the second building collapse in the area within just a week.
The victims were quickly rescued by a combined team from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Police, and Fire Service, and were transported to the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital. Ernestina Nduom, a 74-year-old known as Maame Frema, unfortunately, succumbed to her injuries at the hospital. Her grandson, 18-year-old Frederick, is currently receiving treatment after being hospitalized.
Cape Coast Mayor Justice George Arthur responded to the disaster after a call from the local assembly member. He described the scene, noting two victims trapped under rubble when he arrived. Arthur coordinated with emergency services and engineers for a prompt response. Following hospital visits, he took on the responsibility of informing Nduom’s family about her passing, expressing the emotional weight of the task.
“It’s indeed pathetic,” he remarked. Additionally, he announced plans to demolish the collapsed house along with other adjacent dilapidated structures to prevent future tragedies. The Mayor stated, “We are embarking on a massive demolition exercise, and I will not waste time in demolishing buildings in highly dilapidated states.”
To date, four structures have been demolished, with seven more targeted for removal in the coming days. Relief efforts are being organized to support the affected victims, who were seen salvaging their belongings. The local community is in mourning and appeals have been made for assistance from the government.
Justice Nana Kwasi Agyemang, a representative from the Central Regional NADMO communication team, emphasized the importance of regular maintenance for buildings to prevent similar disasters. “People often neglect repairs thinking it’s just a family house, which can lead to collapse,” he explained. Residents are being urged to cooperate with NADMO to enhance safety measures moving forward.
Meanwhile, Samuel Essel, the Regional NADMO Public Relations Officer, called on the community to contribute logistics and relief supplies to bolster the organization’s response efforts. As the recovery and rescue work continues, Osabarimba Kwesi Atta II, the Paramount Chief of the Oguaa Traditional area, visited the disaster site to express his condolences and assess the damage.
The unfortunate collapse of a family home in Cape Coast has left one person dead and another hospitalized, highlighting the urgent need for building safety measures in the region. Mayor Justice Arthur’s decision to demolish unsafe structures aims to prevent further tragedies while relief efforts are underway for the victims’ families. Local authorities stress the importance of building maintenance to avoid such devastating incidents in the future.
Original Source: mobile.ghanaweb.com
