Toddler killed, three injured in Cape Coast following torrential rains

A 20-month-old baby boy died while three women sustained severe injuries at Tantri in Cape Coast after a mudslide collapsed their building during the more than eight-hour downpour on Friday.

The mudslide occurred around 16:45 hours and crashed into three structures just beneath a hill, bringing down a building on four people.

The victims, 43-year-old Elizabeth Kyerede, 25-year-old Maame Badua, 17-year-old Ella and 20-month-old Hanson Mensah, were rushed to the Ewim Polyclinic, where Hanson was pronounced dead.

Ella, who sustained a deep cut to her head, was, however, referred to the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital due to the severity of her injury.

Narrating the incident to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Richard Joachim, a member of the family, noted that it was the first time a mudslide had occurred in the area.

He said all four people had taken shelter in one room when the incident, which affected three structures, happened, but luckily, the other two structures had no occupants at the time.

He said other members of the family were in their various rooms in the affected house when they heard a sudden loud noise, which made them rush out and quickly mobilise people to rush the injured to the Ewim Polyclinic.

According to Joachim, officers of the Ghana National Fire Service rushed to the scene to offer their support, adding that the Mayor of Cape Coast, George Justice Arthur, had also been there to commiserate with the family.

While not making a direct request, he said any support from city officials and all well-meaning persons would be appreciated.

Meanwhile, many streets, homes and workplaces in Cape Coast were submerged after the rainfall, displacing scores of residents, leaving hundreds stranded and triggering severe traffic congestion across parts of the city.

The downpour, which started in the early hours of Friday, inundated several communities, forcing residents to abandon their homes and seek refuge in safer locations.

Major and minor drainage systems overflowed as the volume of water overwhelmed existing channels, forcing floodwaters into homes, shops and other unconventional areas.

Unsurprisingly, the floods were accompanied by assorted plastics and other waste materials, which worsened the situation.