Death toll in Accra floods rises to 14

[News_Editor]

Death toll in Accra floods rises to 14

2011-11-02 09:40:38 GMT+7 (ICT)

ACCRA (BNO NEWS) -- The death toll as a result of flash floods which hit the Ghanian capital region of Accra last week has risen to at least fourteen, the country's National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) said on Tuesday.

The flooding began on late Tuesday evening last week when heavy rainfall hit large parts of the Greater Accra Region which includes the cities of Accra and Tema. Water reached window levels in some areas as residents desperately tried to save their property.

NADMO said that it has so far recorded a total of 43,385 affected and displaced people, mainly in the Greater Accra Region. Kofi Portuphy, the agency's coordinator, said the death tool stood at fourteen as of Tuesday, including eight men and six women.

Portuphy said the number of affected people was very alarming, adding that more than 480 farmers had their farms completely destroyed in the Volta Region. He explained that 12 teams have already been dispatched to assist the regional, district and zonal rapid assessment efforts in the distribution of relief items.

Accra is in a low-lying area and frequently experiences floods during the rainy season which runs from July through November. Climate experts believe the entire region could be permanently underwater within the next 80 years.

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