At least 13 people have been killed after torrential rainfall triggered severe flooding across Ghana’s capital, Accra, authorities said, as emergency teams continued rescue and recovery operations amid warnings of more heavy rain.

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), which has been leading rescue efforts in affected communities, said the death toll could rise as search operations continue in several flood-hit areas.

Heavy downpours on Sunday night inundated large parts of the city, particularly low-lying neighborhoods, leaving homes, roads, and vehicles submerged. Images and videos shared on social media showed widespread destruction, with floodwaters sweeping through residential areas and causing significant damage to buildings and infrastructure.

Emergency response teams from the police, fire service, military, and the National Disaster Management Organisation have been deployed across the capital to assist affected residents and monitor the evolving situation.

The Interior Ministry said security and emergency personnel were working to safeguard lives and property while coordinating relief efforts in the worst-hit districts.

According to the Ghana National Fire Service, more than 470 people have been rescued since the flooding began.

The government has urged residents to remain indoors if they are in safe locations and to move immediately to higher ground if floodwaters threaten their homes.

In a public statement, the presidency warned residents not to attempt to cross flooded roads either on foot or by vehicle and advised anyone facing danger to seek emergency assistance through national rescue services.

Authorities also called on the public to avoid unnecessary travel in affected areas as rescue operations continue.

President John Dramani Mahama said preliminary data indicated that approximately 140 millimeters of rain fell over Accra during the storm.

He noted that the figure was significantly higher than the highest single-day rainfall recorded in the previous year, which measured around 56 millimeters, and suggested that the increasingly extreme weather patterns may be linked to climate change.

Meteorologists have warned that another storm system approaching from the east could bring additional rainfall to southern Ghana, including Accra, increasing the risk of renewed flooding.

The Ghana Meteorological Agency urged residents to avoid sheltering under trees, stay away from exposed electrical wires, and refrain from walking or driving through floodwaters.

The flooding also triggered a major fire at a rubber factory in Accra, further stretching emergency resources already engaged in rescue and evacuation efforts.

Officials have not yet reported the full extent of the damage caused by the blaze, but emergency crews remain on site to prevent the fire from spreading.

Accra, home to more than four million people, is one of Africa’s fastest-growing cities. Experts have frequently warned that rapid urbanization, inadequate drainage infrastructure, and increasingly intense rainfall events have heightened the city's vulnerability to flooding.

Authorities said assessments of the damage are ongoing, while humanitarian agencies and local officials continue efforts to support affected communities and provide assistance to displaced residents. (ILKHA)