This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20268290
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Melcom shop collapse in Ghana: Voices heard in rubble | Melcom shop collapse in Ghana: Voices heard in rubble |
(about 4 hours 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. |
People in nearby buildings owned by the same company have been ordered to evacuate pending safety inspections. | People in nearby buildings owned by the same company have been ordered to evacuate pending 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. |
A military officer who became trapped beneath the rubble in the course of the rescue exercise on Thursday has been pulled out and rushed to hospital. | |
This has created more space for the team to get to four persons believed to be in that same spot. | |
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 have 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. | |
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. | 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. |
The property developer, who has been wanted for questioning, href="http://edition.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201211/96983.php" title="Link to Joy FM article about Nana Boadu reporting to the Bureau of National Investigations for questioning" >turned himself over to the investigating team on Friday, Ghana's Joy FM radio reports. | |
He told another 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," Mr Boadu 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. |
Accra mayor Alfred Vanderpuye arrived at the site of the collapse on Friday to face questions from reporters about whether he was going to resign over the affair. | |
He said he could not be blamed as the shopping centre was not constructed under his administration. | |
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. |