By Nadia Ntiamoah
Three worshippers are believed to have died as 16 persons rescued following the collapse of a multi-storey structure being used as a place of worship at Accra Newtown on Sunday, March 29, 2026, in an incident that has renewed concerns over building safety and regulatory enforcement in the capital.
The structure, reportedly an uncompleted school building occasionally used by a Christian congregation for Sunday services, caved in around 1:00 p.m. while worshippers were gathered inside.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the building suddenly gave way without warning, trapping several occupants beneath piles of concrete and twisted metal.
Unconfirmed reports suggest three dead bodies recovered while 16 trapped people were rescued as disaster managers were undertaking rescue mission.
In the immediate aftermath, residents and passersby rushed to the scene, initiating frantic rescue efforts with bare hands and rudimentary tools in a desperate attempt to save those trapped.
Their efforts were later reinforced by personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service, the Police, and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), who took control of the operation and cordoned off the area to prevent further casualties.
Initial reports suggested that about five individuals were pulled from the rubble, but subsequent updates confirm that at least 16 victims have now been rescued alive as emergency teams continue to search for possible more survivors.
The exact number of people who were inside the building at the time of the collapse remains unclear, leaving uncertainty over the potential scale of casualties or injuries.
The incident has triggered panic and drawn large crowds to the scene, with anxious relatives and community members gathering as rescue operations continue into the evening.
Authorities have yet to officially confirm fatalities, but say investigations will be launched to determine the cause of the collapse.
