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General News of Wednesday, 7 November 2012

Source: peacefmonline

UPDATED: 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.

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.

Watch Video Below:

The GhanaWeb's Victor Adeyemi says he has seen several people being pulled from the rubble