Koforidua floods claim one life (Photos)

A woman believed to be in her late 40s drowned Sunday afternoon when a taxicab she was travelling in was swept away by flood at Nkubem, a suburb of Koforidua in the Eastern Region.

Three others who were rescued by residents and a policeman were rushed to a clinic in the area whereas the body of the unidentified woman was also deposited at the Koforidua Regional Hospital morgue.

The incident happened around 2pm on Sunday after an hour downpour that caused the area to flood heavily displacing scores of residents and destroying their properties. Many vehicles were also seen lying on the surface of the flood waters at separate places within the municipality.

The flood hit areas such as Tanoso, Betom, Nsukwao, Nkubem and Highways as well as the markets and lorry stations but the road stretching from the Pentecost Church and the Koforidua Clinic at Nkubem were the hardest hit.

Eyewitnesses accounts

According to eyewitnesses, the driver of the taxicab with registration GC 2631-11 refused to heed to an advise by residents around to wait for the flood to recede before crossing to his destination.

As a result the car which was carrying four other passengers, including the deceased and the unconscious driver was swept by the flood.

"We were those who rescued them; a policeman helped us. Personnel from the Ghana Fire Service who were called came in helpless saying they had no rescue gear," the eyewitness told Daily Graphic.

He said the fire personnel arrived with just a fire tender and looked on as the people did the rescuing. However, he added, the Fire service personnel later pulled the taxicab from the drain.

"The driver caused the woman's death. It could have been prevented if only he listened," another eyewitness told the Daily Graphic.