Fuel Leaks Into Floodwaters Near Circle, Raising Fears of Another June 3-Style Disaster

Parts of Accra are under water this Monday, 29 June, after heavy overnight rainfall submerged the Caprice–Alajo–Avenor–Kwame Nkrumah Circle corridor, one of the capital's busiest commercial stretches. Eyewitnesses report a strong fuel smell hanging over the area after floodwaters engulfed at least two filling stations along the route, with petrol visibly spreading across the surface of the water.

The scenes have immediately revived memories of the catastrophic 3 June 2015 disaster, in which 159 people perished near the same Circle area after fuel from a filling station mixed with floodwaters and ignited. A Commission of Inquiry into that tragedy blamed blocked drains, unchecked development along waterways, and poor safety management at fuel stations — conditions that critics argue remain largely unaddressed a decade on.

Emergency services have been mobilised across the capital. The Ghana Armed Forces have launched Operation Boafo, deploying personnel to flood-prone communities including Klagon, Tse Addo and Dzorwulu to assist in rescue efforts. The Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Police Service and NADMO are also actively responding, while the Ministry of the Interior has urged residents to stay off flooded roads and remain in safe locations.

As a precautionary measure, the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) have cut power supply from the Mallam and Achimota substations. A separate fire outbreak was also reported at the Odawna–Okaishie Rubber Market area during the rains, though the cause and containment status remain unclear.

Flooding has been reported across a wide band of communities including Adabraka, Dzorwulu, Weija and Kasoa. The Ghana Meteorological Agency has warned that rain-bearing clouds are expected to persist and spread westward through the evening, raising the prospect of further inundation. The Ghana School of Law has postponed examinations that were scheduled for Monday as a direct result of the flooding.

Authorities are urging the public to exercise extreme caution, particularly around flooded areas where fuel contamination has been reported. Residents near the Circle corridor are being advised to keep away from open flames and to report any suspicious smoke or fire immediately to the Ghana National Fire Service.