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| Melcom shop collapse in Ghana: Voices heard in rubble | Melcom shop collapse in Ghana: Voices heard in rubble |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Voices can still be heard in the rubble of a multi-storey shopping centre in Ghana's capital, Accra, 48 hours after it collapsed, rescue workers have said. | Voices can still be heard in the rubble of a multi-storey shopping centre in Ghana's capital, Accra, 48 hours after it collapsed, rescue workers have said. |
| So far 78 people have been pulled out from beneath the debris of the Melcom store - nine of them dead and 69 alive. | So far 78 people have been pulled out from beneath the debris of the Melcom store - nine of them dead and 69 alive. |
| Faulty construction has been blamed for the collapse of the building, which opened earlier this year. | Faulty construction has been blamed for the collapse of the building, which opened earlier this year. |
| Nearby buildings with the same owner have been ordered to evacuate until they have undergone safety inspections. | Nearby buildings with the same owner have been ordered to evacuate until they have undergone safety inspections. |
| President John Dramani Mahama said those responsible for the "negligence will pay a price". | President John Dramani Mahama said those responsible for the "negligence will pay a price". |
| Banks emptied | Banks emptied |
| The BBC's Akwasi Sarpong at the scene of the collapse says rescue efforts are now concentrating on one section where the voices can be heard. | The BBC's Akwasi Sarpong at the scene of the collapse says rescue efforts are now concentrating on one section where the voices can be heard. |
| Two ambulances are still in front of the site and four stretchers are on top of the rubble where workers are cutting through the concrete and debris, he says. | Two ambulances are still in front of the site and four stretchers are on top of the rubble where workers are cutting through the concrete and debris, he says. |
| Officials say they do not know how many people are still trapped beneath the collapsed structure. | Officials say they do not know how many people are still trapped beneath the collapsed structure. |
| An Israeli rescue team has been using sniffer dogs to help locate people buried under the rubble. | An Israeli rescue team has been using sniffer dogs to help locate people buried under the rubble. |
| Officials from Ghana's National Disaster Management Organization blamed poor foundations for the structure's weakness. | Officials from Ghana's National Disaster Management Organization blamed poor foundations for the structure's weakness. |
| On Thursday, the Ghana Institution of Engineering said the building did not have a permit which meant the city authorities may not have inspected the building before it opened. | On Thursday, the Ghana Institution of Engineering said the building did not have a permit which meant the city authorities may not have inspected the building before it opened. |
| The Accra Metropolitan Assembly has now ordered three nearby buildings which are also owned by Nana Boadu, the director of Kinsadus Company, to be evacuated. | |
| These include the branches of two banks. | These include the branches of two banks. |
| The court order posted on the Standard Chartered Bank building says that no-one is allowed access to the building "until appropriate structural adjustments and building permits are regularly obtained from Accra Metropolitan Assembly". | The court order posted on the Standard Chartered Bank building says that no-one is allowed access to the building "until appropriate structural adjustments and building permits are regularly obtained from Accra Metropolitan Assembly". |
| Our reporter says the employees of Fidelity Bank could be seen moving computers and furniture out of the branch on Friday morning. | Our reporter says the employees of Fidelity Bank could be seen moving computers and furniture out of the branch on Friday morning. |
| According to the court order, the third building is occupied by Mr Boadu and his family. | According to the court order, the third building is occupied by Mr Boadu and his family. |
| Our correspondent says the property developer is still wanted for questioning about Wednesday's collapse. | Our correspondent says the property developer is still wanted for questioning about Wednesday's collapse. |
| But Mr Boadu told a local radio station on Friday morning that the Melcom store building did have a permit. | But Mr Boadu told a local radio station on Friday morning that the Melcom store building did have a permit. |
| "There is no way I will put up a building and do a shoddy work," he told Ghana's Peace FM. | "There is no way I will put up a building and do a shoddy work," he told Ghana's Peace FM. |
| "Every document needed to help in the investigations I will provide. I have a file full of documents and receipts showing the building permit fees," he said. | "Every document needed to help in the investigations I will provide. I have a file full of documents and receipts showing the building permit fees," he said. |
| Our reporter says Accra mayor Alfred Vanderpuye arrived at the site of the collapse on Friday morning and is facing questions from reporters. | Our reporter says Accra mayor Alfred Vanderpuye arrived at the site of the collapse on Friday morning and is facing questions from reporters. |
| The president has declared the site a disaster zone and suspended his campaign for next month's elections. | The president has declared the site a disaster zone and suspended his campaign for next month's elections. |