A major rescue operation was underway at Avenor in North Kaneshie after a three-storey building collapsed at the Industrial Area, killing two people and leaving one woman trapped beneath the rubble.
Emergency responders raced against time to locate and rescue the woman as heavy machinery and specialised equipment were deployed to the disaster scene. The collapse, which occurred on the night of June 6, 2026, drew a coordinated response from multiple state agencies tasked with saving lives and securing the area.
Three people have so far been rescued from the debris. Rescue teams have confirmed two fatalities, while efforts continue to reach the woman believed to remain trapped under the collapsed structure.
The incident prompted the immediate deployment of personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Ambulance Service, and the Ghana Police Service.
Other agencies involved in the operation include the National Disaster Management Organisation, the Ghana Armed Forces, the Electricity Company of Ghana, and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly.
Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, with the Interior Minister Hon. Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak and the Greater Accra Regional Minister, also monitored developments as emergency teams intensified rescue efforts at the scene.
Emergency teams create access routes
As rescuers worked carefully through the debris, officials from the Ghana National Fire Service and the Electricity Company of Ghana collaborated to disconnect and relocate electrical infrastructure around the site to facilitate access for heavy equipment.
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Roberta Aggrey Ghansah provided updates on the operation and outlined measures being taken to improve conditions for the rescue effort.
“We are moving the transformer to create more space for the excavator rescue operation. After that, the ECG will find a more appropriate space to mount it,” she said. According to her, specialised hydraulic equipment was being used to cut through sections of the collapsed building.
“We are using a cutting tool which is connected to hydraulic means. The cables to the hydraulic means are very delicate, so we have to ensure that nobody walks around and there is no unnecessary movement around the operation area”.
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Roberta Aggrey Ghansah
She added that relocating the transformer and establishing additional access points would enable rescue teams to proceed more effectively. “We hope to use just about 15 minutes for this exercise,” she stated.
Search continues for trapped woman
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Ghansah disclosed that emergency personnel were initially informed that four people had been trapped inside the building when it collapsed.
“When we arrived in the morning, we were told that there were four persons in there. Two were able to come out, with one sustaining injuries. We were told there were two more persons left, one male and one female”.
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Roberta Aggrey Ghansah
She explained that rescue teams had subsequently succeeded in pulling the male victim from the rubble. “The rescue team has been able to rescue one male who is in a bad condition, and only the doctors can tell his condition,” she noted. Attention has now shifted entirely to locating and rescuing the remaining female victim.
“We are putting in further plans to locate exactly where the female is. We are putting in strategies to remove the rubble in layers so that we do not hurt the woman left under there.”
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Roberta Aggrey Ghansah
Emergency personnel continued to exercise caution throughout the operation to avoid causing further injury to the trapped woman.
Eyewitnesses recount moments of panic
Residents, traders and workers in the area described scenes of panic immediately after the structure gave way. Several people reportedly rushed to the scene in an attempt to assist before the arrival of emergency responders.
The collapse quickly attracted large crowds as rescue teams established safety perimeters around the site. Authorities appealed to members of the public to stay away from the rescue zone to allow personnel to work without obstruction.
The tragedy has once again raised questions about building safety standards and enforcement of construction regulations in Accra. In recent years, Ghana has experienced several building collapses resulting in deaths, injuries and extensive property damage.
Professionals within the construction sector have repeatedly called for stricter enforcement of regulations, improved project supervision and tougher sanctions against developers who violate approved standards.
The exact cause of the Avenor collapse remains unknown. However, investigations are expected to determine whether the structure had received the required permits and whether established construction guidelines were followed.
Officials have yet to disclose details regarding the ownership of the building or confirm whether it was occupied at the time of the incident. Authorities are also expected to assess the structural integrity of nearby buildings as a precautionary measure.
As rescue operations continued into the evening, hopes remained that the trapped woman could still be brought out alive. Further updates are expected as emergency teams advance their search efforts and investigations into the collapse commence.
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