Deadly floods kill at least 24 across Ghana and Ivory Coast

At least 24 people have died in flash floods and landslides across Accra, Ghana, and Abidjan, Ivory Coast, as extreme rainfall overwhelms drainage infrastructure in both West African capitals. Emergency workers are conducting rescue operations for 271 people trapped by floodwaters, with 2 additional people reported missing.

Accra has confirmed 12 deaths, including a mother and child killed in the Achimota-Agbogbloshie district, where entire buildings and roads remain submerged. Ghana's military has been requested to assist emergency operations as access problems prevent rescue teams from reaching isolated communities. The Ghana Meteorological Agency has issued warnings for additional rainfall in coming days.

Abidjan hit by unprecedented rainfall intensity

Abidjan recorded 214mm (8.4 inches) of rainfall in a single 24-hour period—four times the normal daily amount and representing 25% of the city's entire three-month rainy season precipitation concentrated into one day. The extreme deluge, which intensified dramatically after rains began June 13, has killed more than a dozen people in Ivory Coast, primarily in the Attécoubé and Yopougon municipalities.

Nine victims remain trapped under rubble in the Mosikro neighborhood, where landslides buried structures following the intense rainfall. Rescue crews continue search operations as floodwaters complicate access to affected areas across both cities.

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Emergency operations continue

Emergency services in both countries are establishing coordination centers as military units deploy to areas where civilian rescue teams cannot access. The Ghana Meteorological Agency's warnings for continued rainfall present challenges for rescue operations already stretched across multiple submerged districts in Accra.

Low-lying informal settlements remain particularly exposed to continued flooding, with residents facing limited relocation options despite government advisories to move to higher ground. As forecast rainfall approaches, authorities are prioritizing search operations in areas where people remain trapped while simultaneously preparing for potential additional casualties if weather conditions deteriorate further.