Newtown Building collapse: 2 dead, 14 rescued so far

Two people have been confirmed dead, while fourteen (14) others have been rescued following the collapse of an old school building near the Experimental Junior High School in Newtown.

The incident occurred on Sunday while a group of worshippers had gathered inside the structure, which had reportedly been converted into a makeshift place of worship. The sudden collapse triggered panic in the area and prompted a swift emergency response.

Personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service, alongside other emergency agencies and local residents, rushed to the scene to begin rescue operations, working against time to locate and extract victims trapped beneath the rubble.

Speaking to Citi News, Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, ADO1 Alex King Nartey, said the rescue effort is ongoing, with responders relying on faint cries from beneath the debris to guide their search.

“We have one person reported dead, it is a female. She is in her early 30s.”

“Rescue mission is still ongoing. The voices are growing fainter because our officers are relying on people calling for help to trace where people are. For now, people are still down there. We are not sure of the number,” he said.

He later confirmed that another victim had been retrieved dead from the debris, bringing the death toll to two, while indicating that fears remain that more casualties could be recorded as the operation continues.

Authorities are yet to determine the exact number of people who were inside the building at the time of the collapse. Meanwhile, investigations are expected to be launched to establish the cause of the incident and assess the structural integrity of similar buildings in the area.

Rescue teams remain on site, continuing efforts to reach those still believed to be trapped.