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Update: Israelis rescue five victims in Melcom disaster  
Source: GNA / 08.11.2012

Eight-member team from Israel who arrived in Ghana Thursday afternoon have rescued five more people in the collapsed Melcom shopping mall disaster.
Earlier
A nine-man Israeli Rescue Mission on Thursday joined the Ghanaian rescue mission at the Melcom Shopping Mall disaster site to assist locate and extract any remaining survivors.
The team was briefed by some Ghanaian officials at the site.
Earlier in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, an Israeli Embassy official, Eyal Lampert said the Israeli team was expected to work in collaboration with the detachment from the Field Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Army currently at the site.
According to the Embassy official, the team would undertake initial assessment at the site using special equipment and sniffer dogs that would help identify the locations of possible survivors or corpses.
He said Israel had in addition to the rescue to team put on standby about 150 support team and logistics including field hospitals and concrete cutters to move to Ghana should the initial assessment deem it necessary.
The tireless efforts of the Field Engineer Regiment, NADMO (National Disaster Management Organisation) and other emergency services including the Ghana Police and the National Ambulance Service has led to the rescue of at least 51 persons from the rubble so far.

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Melcom disaster survivors accuse management of negligence

Source: Joy Online / 08.11.2012

Some staff of the Achimota branch of Melcom who survived this morning's collapse of the multi storey shopping complex, have accused their managers of negligence leading to the disaster which claimed the lives of three people.

According to the surviving staff, they noticed and saw cracks in some of the pillars at the shop three days ago and reported to their supervisors who told them, the pillars only needed plastering and nothing more. Three days on, they are shocked at the enormity of the resulting disaster.

Rescue workers and members of the public have been working tirelessly since morning to rescue victims from the rubble of what would go down in history as one of Accra's darkest days. Fortunately some of these victims have already been rescued and are receiving treatment at various hospitals in Accra.

We joined President Mahama during his visit to the Achimota hospital to console the victims. Some of the victims told Joy News they saw cracks in the pillars about three days ago.

But not only victims were sent to the hospital. A woman at the Achimota Hospital was brought in after she collapsed while crying out for her cousin who was trapped in the collapsed building.

Call it sheer luck but some staff were fortunate not to have reported for work at the time.

Families and friends are still trooping in to various hospitals to check on their loved ones. Some of the victims could not hide their emotions when they reunited with their relatives.

At the 37 Military Hospital, we chanced upon the arrival of one of the victims. The media was however not allowed to enter the wards to talk to victims. A group gathered at the 37 Military Hospital told our News Team that their sister was one of the first to be rescued but at the time of speaking to us, they didn't know where she was.

We also saw some big wigs of Melcom gathered with a list. Upon inquiry we were informed that the paper they had was a list of the staff at the Achimota branch and they were cross-checking it against those who have been rescued.

They however declined to speak on camera to the news team. The owner of Melcom Ghana Ltd accompanied by other officials of the company arrived at the 37 Military Hospital at 6:20pm to visit the victims.

Joy news will bring you more on the incident as it unfolds.

Meanwhile as rescue teams continue to comb the rubble for more survivors, a former TOR worker thinks the disaster response team is going about their business the wrong way.

Joseph Owusu Agyei is proposing a better way of dealing with the rescue operation rather than using excavators, as has been done over the 8 hour period since the rescue operation started.


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Melcom building lacking permit indicates failure - Expert

Source: Joy Online / 08.11.2012

Former President of the Ghana Institution of Architects, O.K. Agyeman has said that the construction industry and its regulators are too irresponsible and undisciplined.

More problematically, he added, development has outstripped regulators’ abilities and capacity to regulate it.

Speaking Thursday on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show in response to yesterday’s Melcom tragedy, Mr. Agyemang called the collapse of the building, which was constructed without a permit, emblematic of government’s inability to enforce building codes nationwide.

He suggested that the public would benefit more if the response to this tragedy included a candid examination of leadership at many levels.

Typically, he explained, such incidents provoke a big fuss about building standards that ultimately yields no systematic reform.

He especially faulted the municipal assemblies, whom he said are generally overwhelmed by their workloads and who exhibited negligence in this case.

Mayor of Accra, Dr. Alfred Vanderpuye defended the AMA, insisting that the assembly regularly prosecutes building code violators and denied that his outfit delays in processing building permits.

He pledged to find out how collapsed Melcom building could have gone up without a permit and to locate the building’s owner, who ignored an AMA request for a meeting.

Urban Planner Frank Tackie suggested that because assemblies are unable to fulfill their building inspection duties, they should outsource these responsibilities to specialized contractors.

The inspection costs as well as the liabilities, he said, should be borne by the property owner.


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Melcom disaster: Prez Mahama orders IGP to promote injured officer

Source: Joy Online / 08.11.2012

President John Mahama has ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to promote to the next rank a police officer who got injured while helping to rescue people trapped in Wednesday’s Melcom shop disaster.

The policeman, whose name is not readily known, has reportedly rescued about 14 victims, according to Joy News’ Derick W. Johnson, who is at the scene.

He reported that both of the policeman’s limbs have been bandaged and he is taking a rest.

Derrick quoted the security officer as saying: “I have sacrificed myself to rescue people”.

So far, about 75 people have been rescued and nine confirmed dead.

The president visited the scene again on Thursday afternoon after Israeli rescuers arrived in Ghana to support local efforts.

He vowed to ensure that city authorities are held responsible for the disaster.


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Melcom Tragedy - Death toll rises to nine

Source: Kojo Frimpong

The death toll in the Melcom disaster has risen to nine with 77 persons rescued from the rubble.
Rescue operations are ongoing as the bodies of the departed ones have been transported to the morgue.
The Achimota branch of the Melcom Shopping Complex opposite the Neoplan Assembly Plant, collapsed on Wednesday around 9.20 a.m. after what eyewitnesses described as an explosion.
Government today announced that a team of disaster management experts and doctors from Israel are expected in the country to assist with rescue efforts. This is in fulfillment of the promise made by the Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Bar-li made on Wednesday. The equipment would include emergency medical equipment, rescue and monitoring equipment.
The President John Dramani Mahama, has given strong indication that those whose negligence led to the tragedy "will pay a price.”

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BNI questions 3 over Melcom shop building disaster

Source: Joy Online

Officials of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) have questioned three people in connection with Wednesday's Melcom shop disaster which has claimed nine lives so far.

The suspects are believed to have acted negligently resulting in the collapse of the Achimota branch of the Melcom shop.

Ramesh Sadhwani, Co-Managing Director of Melcom, Victor Mensah, also from Melcom and the Works Director of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly have been grilled by BNI.

Richmond Oduro Kwarteng, the Public Relations Officer of Melcom confirmed this to Joy News.

He said the Co-MD and the other official have been discharged.

Deputy Information Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said the questioning followed a directive of President John Mahama.

He said it was the view of the President that "too many things have been taken for granted."

The security agencies are still hunting for the owner of the building, one Nana Kwesi Boadu, who is currently at large.

The nation woke up Wednesday to a rare disaster in which a 5-storey building housing Melcom collapsed on workers who were having a morning devotion pending the opening of the shop to shoppers.

Rescue teams were rallied and campaign activities of the various political parties were cancelled.

So far, over 70 people have been pulled out of the rubble but so too are the bodies of nine victims.

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I could have prevented Melcom disaster - Safety Coordinator

Source: Joy Online

A safety Coordinator, Eric Twum Osei says he could have prevented the Melcom disaster, which has so far claimed five lives, from happening.

The six-storey Melcom shopping mall collapsed Wednesday morning, trapping an unknown number of people. Rescue efforts are still underway and over 70 people have been pulled out alive.

Mr Twum Osei who spoke on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show Thursday, said he visited the mall days before the disaster occurred and realised the building was weak, having cracks in it. His claims were confirmed by some surviving staff of the mall who told Joy News they noticed cracks in some of the pillars three days earlier and reported to their supervisors.

The survivors, who accused their superiors of negligence, said they were told the pillars only needed plastering and nothing more.

Looking back, Mr Twum wishes he had done more than drawing the attention of authorities of the shopping centre. He feels going the extra mile could have averted the situation.

“I could have gone further; actually that’s exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted to see their safety coordinator because if they had got one and I had seen that guy I think things would have been moved in the right direction,” he stated.

The Safety Coordinator further explained that because he didn’t get anyone in authority to discuss that with, “…I had to draw back because the whole thing was being greeted by [hostility]”.

“…You know, this thing about Ghanaians, when you tell them about what is right they tell you …you have to mind your own business.”

“So I think I could have gone ahead to do something about it but unfortunately I didn’t meet the right people,” Mr Twum Osei observed.

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Vanguard Assurance to compensate Achimota Melcom

Source: GNA

Vanguard Assurance Company Limited (VACL), insurers of the collapsed Achimota Melcom Shopping Mall on Wednesday said it would evaluate destroyed goods and provide the needed compensation to the management of Melcom.

Mr Fred Lamptey, Chief Operating Officer of VACL who disclosed this to journalists during a visit to the site in Accra said the management of the Mall had a policy with the insurance company which covered only the goods at the Mall.

He expressed his sympathy for the injured as well as those feared trapped under the rubble.

Mr Lamptey was optimistic that they would soon be rescued whole.

The six-storey Achimota Melcom building was believed to have collapsed around 0940 hours with an unknown number of people trapped inside.

According to the rescue team, 46 people had so far been rescued from the rubble with three others reported dead as of 1700 hours.

Out of the 46, thirteen had been sent to the 37 Military Hospital, four to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, 28 to the Achimota Hospital and one to the Police Hospital, all in Accra.

A strong rescue team, made up of Ghana Fire Service, Ghana Armed Forces,Ghana Police Service, Ambulance Service and National Sanitation Task Force was making frantic efforts to rescue the trapped workers at the collapsed mall.

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Latest UPDATE: Melcom Collapse...50 Rescued; 4 Feared Dead

More people, mainly staff of the Achimota Branch of Melcom Shopping Mall, who were feared trapped in the rubble of the collapsed ultra-modern building, have been rescued as officials made up of the Police, Military, Fire Service and the National Ambulance Service battle to save the lives of others.

Reports say 50 people have so far been rescued whiles three have been confirmed dead at the Police Hospital. (Source: peace FM)

UPDATED: Melcom Collapse...6 Dead, 38 Rescued, 50 Reportedly Trapped

Source: Peace FM

Over 50 people, mainly staff of the Achimota Branch of Melcom Shopping Mall, are still feared trapped in the rubble of the collapsed ultra-modern building as rescue officials made up of the Police, Military, Fire Service and the National Ambulance Service battle to save their lives.

Peacefmonline.com can confirm that the Achimota branch of Melcom shopping centre has collapsed trapping many inside on Wednesday morning at 9:20.

Reports say 38 people have so far been retrieved whiles three have been confirmed dead at the Police Hospital.

The six-storey Melcom shopping complex opposite the Neoplan Assembly Plant at Achimota, Accra caved in on Wednesday morning.

According to eye witnesses, the building collapsed after an explosion, injuring workers, shoppers and pedestrians and cracking windscreens of nearby vehicles.

The collapsed shopping complex is on the same compound with Fidelity Bank, Achimota branch. The building is also close to the Standard Chartered Bank and another shopping mall, Sarlinesta.

Meanwhile, the Vice President, Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur;Accra Metropolitan Assembly(AMA) boss, Alfred Vanderpuije; Minister of Trade and Industry Hannah Tetteh; Chief of Staff, Henry Martey Newman; NPP Chairman, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey and NPP Running mate, Dr. Bawumia among other senior state officials are all at the scene of the incident.

President John Mahama has visited the site. He flew from Bawku in the Upper East Region to have a first hand information on the incident.

He charged the rescuers to work around the clock to ensure all persons trapped under the building were rescued.

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Melcom disaster: Those whose negligence caused this will pay! Mahama swears

Source: Joy Online

President John Dramani Mahama has given a strong indication that the person whose negligence caused the collapse of the multi-storey Melcom building at Achimota would be dealt with.

The president also assured that specialized workers, as well as sniffer dogs would be brought on board to complement the “good work” of the combined rescue team underway.

President Mahama said he was on his campaign tour just approaching Bawku when he heard about the unfortunate incident and immediately had to suspend the tour to return to Accra.

“Whoever is responsible for this negligence here will pay a price,” he told the media, after a brief inspection of the scene.

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Mahama suspends N/R campaign to console Melcom victims

Source: Radio XYZ Online

President John Mahama has suspended his campaign tour of the Northern region following the collapse of the six-storey Melcom shopping mall in Achimota, Accra.

The President who was on his way to Bolgatanga in the Upper East region immediately suspended his campaign after news of the tragedy got to him.

Radio XYZ correspondent Kwame Danso Acheampong who is traveling with the President said President Mahama is on his way to Accra to console some of the families of the victims and ensure that those trapped are quickly rescued to save lives.

Rescue efforts are however underway and unconfirmed reports indicate that two people have pulled from the rubble. Reports also indicate that over 100 staff and customers are still trapped in the building.

President Mahama immediately after disaster tweeted "My prayers are with the workers, shoppers and others who are trapped in the rubble of the Achimota Melcom building."

The Achimota Melcom building collapsed on Wednesday morning shortly after the shopping mall was opened.

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Update: Melcom Collapse; 4 dead, 50 feared trapped

Source: Kojo Smith

Four of the nine retrieved persons in the six-storey collapsed Melcom shopping mall at Achimota, have been confirmed dead at the Police Hospital.

Over 50 people, mainly staff of Melcom, are feared trapped in the rubble as rescue officials made up of the Police, Military, Fire Service and the National Ambulance Service are working around the clock to save lives.

The trapped persons were said to be undergoing their routine morning devotion (worship) when the disaster struck at 9.15am.

According to eye witnesses, the six-storey building collapsed after an explosion, injuring workers, shoppers and pedestrians and cracking windscreens of nearby vehicles.

Information gathered on the ground has it that, there were several workers and dozens of shoppers within the newly-built shopping complex before it collapsed.

Scores of high ranking police and fire service personnel and some government officials including the Mayor of Accra, Alfred Oko Vanderpuye, are currently at the scene with excavators to rescue the trapped people as well as clear the rubble.

The 48 Engineering Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces is also at the scene to help with rescue operation.

Moments after the news broke, President John Dramani Mahama twittered: "My prayers are with the workers, shoppers and others who are trapped in the rubble of the collapsed Achimota Melcom building."

Eyewitnesses say hundreds are trapped beneath the debris as five ambulances from the National Ambulance Service are also on standby to save lives.

Melcom Limited is Ghana's largest chain of retail department stores. The six-storey at Achimota was recently opened for operations and is considered one of the ultramodern edifices in Accra.

Ghana department store collapses in Accra

Source: BBC

A multi-storey department store has collapsed in Ghana's capital, Accra, with dozens of people believed to be trapped inside.

Rescue efforts are under way, with officials saying that at least three people died in the Melcom store.
The BBC's Sammy Darko, who is at the scene, says 10 people have been pulled alive from the rubble so far.
Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama said he had suspended his campaign for next month's election.
The government has declared the area in the city's Achimota neighbourhood a disaster zone.
“I had to run for my life” Ama Okyere (Eyewitness)

Vice-President Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur is co-ordinating rescue efforts after the building, which opened earlier this year, collapsed 15 minutes before the shop opened.

Hundreds of rescuers are digging through the rubble, amid fears that dozens of people are trapped inside, our correspondent says.

In a statement on its Facebook page , Melcom said it had rented the building which housed its Achimota branch on a 10-year lease.

"This is indeed a very tragic incident," it said.

"We are doing everything possible to see that help reaches those who need it. Our heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies goes to the families of those who may have lost their lives."

Our reporter says customers often queue outside the store before it opens and officials say they believe about 50 people may been inside at the time of the collapse.

Eyewitness Ama Okyere told the AFP news agency she was very close to the shopping centre when the building came down.


The building collapsed just before the Melcom store was about to open
"I had to run for my life. I was so terrified. I believe there are lots of people trapped under this because this is a heavily patronised shopping mall in the area."

Family members have been trying to call relatives feared trapped beneath the rubble on their mobile phones, AFP reports.

Another witness, John Owusu, said he heard a bang before the building collapsed.

President Mahama, in a tweet moments after the building collapsed , said: "My prayers are with the workers, shoppers and others who are trapped in the rubble of the Achimota Melcom building."

He has cut short his campaign in the north of the country and is flying back to Accra.

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Special Forces to stop looters at Melcom

Source: Victor Adeyemi

People with no sense of compassion have reportedly taken advantage of the devastated ultramodern Melcom building at Achimota in Accra, stealing valuable merchandises.

Reports say Special Forces of the Ghana Armed Forces are on their way to aid the police who are facing difficulties in preventing thieves, who are taking advantage of the situation.

The four-storey building caved in this morning trapping at least 45 workers and several shoppers.

It is unclear what caused the collapse of the building.

More Soon.

Melcom official Vitalina Adjimani told Reuters: "Our concern is not about the loss of property but it's about human lives."

"This is a tragedy and we are very much concerned about those trapped in there," she said

Melcom Disaster News of 09.11.2012 >>> Updates <<<