Just five days after a building collapse killed two elderly persons at London Bridge, another tragic incident occurred in Cape Coast early Tuesday morning, leaving one person dead and two injured.
The two-storey building, located in Idun near Amissah Ekyir, collapsed around 2 a.m., claiming the life of Ernestina Nduom, while her grandson sustained injuries. Two other individuals were rescued from the rubble and rushed to the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, where one remains under treatment. The Mayor of Cape Coast, George Justice Arthur, personally informed the grieving family of Nduom’s passing, highlighting the devastating toll of the incident.
This marks the second such disaster in less than a week, bringing the total death toll from building collapses in Cape Coast to three, with several others injured. The previous incident, which occurred last Saturday, also involved an aging structure that gave way during heavy rains, killing two and injuring three. Authorities suspect that the recent downpours may have weakened already compromised buildings, raising concerns about the structural integrity of older constructions in the area.
In response to the recurring tragedies, Metropolitan Chief Executive Justice George Arthur has vowed to take swift action, announcing plans to demolish all unstable structures to prevent further loss of life. “We cannot afford to wait for another disaster,” he stated, emphasizing the need for stricter enforcement of building safety regulations.
As heavy rains continue to batter the region, residents are calling for urgent government intervention to inspect and reinforce vulnerable buildings, ensuring such avoidable tragedies do not happen again.
