At least five houses and nine vehicles were buried after a massive mudslide carrying heavy rocks swept down the 600-metre Adaklu Mountain at Adaklu-Helekpe in the Volta Region on Wednesday evening.
The incident happened shortly after 6:00 p.m. during a heavy downpour. Two people — a man and a woman — became trapped beneath the debris but were rescued by residents before personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service arrived at the scene.
Residents also reported that about 50 goats and several other livestock were killed in the disaster, while affected families have temporarily taken shelter with relatives and neighbours.
Volta Regional Fire Commander, Assistant Chief Fire Officer Joseph Tetteh Freeman, confirmed that no fatalities were recorded. However, he directed residents living close to the affected area to evacuate immediately and avoid the scene for at least one week to allow geotechnical experts to assess the stability of the mountain.
According to him, the mudslide covered several acres of land, prompting authorities to advise residents against visiting their farms until further notice. He also praised community members for their swift response in rescuing the trapped victims.
“We will continue to monitor the situation at Adaklu-Helekpe until we are satisfied the area is safe,” he said.
Officials from the National Disaster Management Organisation were also at the scene assisting with assessments and emergency response efforts.
The latest disaster has revived memories of a similar incident in 2017, when rocks from Adaklu Mountain broke loose and sent debris into the community, forcing residents to flee for safety.