Wide areas of Accra, Ghana, are under water after a period of heavy rain that began 09 June 2016. Residents of the city are fearing a repeat of last year’s flood and fire disaster which left over 150 people dead. Ghana Meteorological Agency say that more rain can be expected in the coming days.

The country’s National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has asked residents of flood prone areas to move to higher ground. They have also asked for residents’ co-operation in reporting floods around the city.

The Odaw River has overflown and drainage channels including the Onyasia, Odaw and Nima are full. Local media say that flooded areas of greater Accra include Kwame Nkrumah Circle, parts of Teshie, Airport Residential, Dzorwulu, Achimota and Tse Addo.

Personnel from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the Ghana Police Service (GPS), the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) and the Ghana National Fire and Rescue Services (GNFRS), are working in the flooded areas. Earlier today, President Mahama thanked them for their efforts.

    

Compliments again to our security services forthe prompt response to the emergency created by yday’s heavy downpour. pic.twitter.com/Vdc08IOlo7

— John Dramani Mahama (@JDMahama) June 10, 2016

A local radio station has reported that the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has shut down its power station at Dzorwulu due to the high levels of flowing rain water.

In Tema, a few kilometres east of Accra, local media are reporting that a young child is missing in the floods in the area of Tema Site 7.

Rainfall

Initial figures suggest that between 140 and 190 mm of rain fell in 24 hours between 09 and 10 June in some areas of Accra. Most of the rain fell in a 3 to 6 hour period, according to local media. Although this time of year marks the start of the rainy season, this is still a significant amount. Accra would normally expect to see around 221 mm for the whole of June, according to WMO figures.

Elsewhere in the country, Tema recorded 61.9 mm, Akatsi 52 mm and Wenchi 64 mm in 24 hours between 09 and 10 June.

Accra – A city blighted by floods

The recent floods in Accra come almost exactly a year after the flood and fire disaster of 2015. Days of torrential rain in early June 2015 resulted in widespread flooding which left many seeking shelter. During the downpour, an explosion on 03 June at a petrol station in Accra left 159 dead and 60 injured.

A Memorial service was recently held in honour of those who perished in last year’s flood and fire outbreak in Accra, where President Mahama laid a wreath.