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Melcom shop collapse: Ghana rescue efforts continue Melcom shop collapse: Ghana rescue efforts continue
(about 1 hour later)
Rescue efforts are continuing to find survivors after a multi-storey department store collapsed in Ghana's capital, Accra, on Wednesday.Rescue efforts are continuing to find survivors after a multi-storey department store collapsed in Ghana's capital, Accra, on Wednesday.
The BBC's Sammy Darko reports from the scene that he can see the hands of three people under the rubble, as rescuers desperately try to reach them.The BBC's Sammy Darko reports from the scene that he can see the hands of three people under the rubble, as rescuers desperately try to reach them.
Five people are now confirmed to have died, while at least 65 people have been pulled out alive so far. Five people are now confirmed to have died, while at least 65 people have been pulled out alive.
President John Dramani Mahama has declared the area a disaster zone.President John Dramani Mahama has declared the area a disaster zone.
He has suspended his campaign for next month's election.He has suspended his campaign for next month's election.
'Pregnant women trapped'
He cut short a visit to northern Ghana on Wednesday, and visited the site of the collapsed Melcom store in Accra's Achimota neighbourhood.He cut short a visit to northern Ghana on Wednesday, and visited the site of the collapsed Melcom store in Accra's Achimota neighbourhood.
'Terrified' He said he had ordered an investigation into why the building, which opened earlier this year, collapsed.
He said he had ordered an investigation into why the building collapsed. "Whoever is responsible for this negligence will pay a price," href="http://www.presidency.gov.gh/press-centre/general-news/melcom-disaster-whoever-responsible-negligence-will-pay-prez-mahama" title="Mr Mahama's comments on his website" >Mr Mahama said in a statement.
A team of Israelis is due to arrive later on Thursday to help the rescue effort. "We are going to put in place mechanisms to check the safety and security of other high rise buildings and find out if there aren't any more such disasters waiting to happen."
"The team will make an initial assessment of the site using special equipment and sniffer dogs that will help identify the locations of possible survivors or corpses," Mr Mahama's office said in a statement. A spokeswoman for Ghana's National Disaster Management Organization, Kate Adobaya, said structural weakness had caused the collapse, AP news agency reports.
"The foundation was not good enough," she said.
A team of 18 Israelis is due to arrive later on Thursday to help the rescue effort.
"The team will make an initial assessment of the site using special equipment and sniffer dogs that will help identify the locations of possible survivors or corpses," Mr Mahama said.
Our correspondent says noises can still be heard from under the rubble.Our correspondent says noises can still be heard from under the rubble.
He can see the hands of three people, but he does not whether they are alive. He can see the hands of three people, but he does not know whether they are alive.
Rescuers are trying to get to them, our correspondent says.Rescuers are trying to get to them, our correspondent says.
Vice-President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur is co-ordinating rescue efforts at the building, which opened earlier this year. He says two pregnant women are also feared trapped.
Their relatives are at the site, crying and searching for them.
'Run for my life'
A crowd is again gathering, despite Vice-President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur appealing to them on Wednesday to disperse because they were hampering rescue efforts, our correspondent says.
Mr Amissah-Arthur is co-ordinating rescue efforts.
He said the building had collapsed shortly before the Melcom store was due to open for business on Wednesday.He said the building had collapsed shortly before the Melcom store was due to open for business on Wednesday.
In a statement on its Facebook page, Melcom said it had rented the building which housed its Achimota branch on a 10-year lease.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."This is indeed a very tragic incident," it said.
Our reporter says customers often queue outside the store before it opens.Our reporter says customers often queue outside the store before it opens.
Eyewitness Ama Okyere told the AFP news agency she was very close to the shopping centre when the building came down.Eyewitness Ama Okyere told the AFP news agency she was very close to the shopping centre when the building came down.
"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.""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."