GNFS Rescues 479 People in Three Days as Floods, Fires and Building Collapse Hit Accra and Tema

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has revealed that it rescued and safely evacuated 479 people during a series of emergency operations carried out between June 28 and June 30, 2026, as severe flooding, fire outbreaks and a building collapse affected parts of Accra, Tema and surrounding communities.

According to the Service, firefighters worked around the clock alongside other emergency response agencies to tackle multiple incidents, including floods, fires, rescue missions and structural emergencies.

Despite the successful rescue efforts, five people lost their lives during the three-day period. One person sustained injuries, while another remains missing.

The emergency operations began on Sunday, June 28, with firefighters responding to two separate fire outbreaks in Accra. Personnel from the Industrial Area Fire Station quickly brought a domestic fire at Lartebiokorshie under control, preventing it from spreading beyond one room. Firefighters also managed to save adjoining sections of the building.

Later the same day, the Trade Fair Fire Station responded to a commercial fire at Labadi Kojo Sardine. The blaze partially damaged a metal container and its contents before it was successfully extinguished. Preliminary investigations indicate that an overcharged solar panel battery may have triggered the fire.

At Asutuare Junction, firefighters battled a fuel tanker fire using four fire tenders. Although the blaze was eventually brought under control, the tanker and its contents were completely destroyed. One person sustained injuries and was taken to hospital, while another lost their life. Investigations into the cause of the incident are ongoing.

Following heavy rains on Monday, June 29, the GNFS intensified rescue operations across flood-hit communities in Greater Accra and Tema. At Tse-Ado Last Stop, a joint operation involving the GNFS, the Ghana Police Service Marine Unit, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the Ghana Armed Forces rescued 105 people trapped by floodwaters, including women, men and children.

In the Tema Region, firefighters responded to 23 emergency incidents within 24 hours, including fire outbreaks, flood emergencies and fallen trees. Rescue teams saved 12 people from floodwaters and assisted more than 50 residents to safety at Tema Newtown. However, a female trader was reported missing after being swept away by floodwaters near the Tema Community One Market.

The Service also responded to a structural emergency at Tabora No. 6 after a four-storey building collapsed. Fortunately, all 12 occupants had evacuated before the collapse, resulting in no injuries or fatalities.

By Tuesday, June 30, firefighters had completed major rescue operations along the Adabraka-Odawna corridor, one of the areas most severely affected by flooding. More than 300 people were rescued from floodwaters during the exercise.

However, four people, made up of three males and one female, lost their lives in the flooding.

Firefighters also contained a major fire outbreak at the Odawna Rubber Market near Kwame Nkrumah Circle. Although several structures were damaged, emergency crews prevented the flames from spreading to nearby properties. No casualties were recorded, and a fire appliance remains stationed at the scene to monitor the area and prevent any re-ignition.

Summarising the operations, the GNFS stated that 479 people were rescued or safely evacuated over the three-day period. The Service recorded four flood-related deaths and one fire-related fatality, while one person suffered injuries and another remains missing.