- June 3rd, 2024 marks the solemn remembrance of flood and fire disaster
- A survivor of the 2015 disaster bravely shares his ongoing struggle
- The wounds of June 3rd continue to haunt Ghana
June 3rd, 2024 marks exactly 9 years when what has become known as the flood and fire disaster occurred.
On that fateful day, an explosion at Goil fuel station and flooding caused by torrential rainfall killed over 150 people at Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Ghana’s capital city, Accra.
The rains which started on 1st June 2015 as normal rainfall intensified, affecting most parts of Accra, but took a heavy toll on ‘circle’ and its environs.
Kassim Salam is one of the victims that survived the June 3rd 2015 disaster. It has been 9 years since the nation experienced this unforgettable disaster.
In an interview Kassim said, “I still am not fully recovered and live in fear whenever it rains or threatens to rain. “I don’t step out when the weather changes due to what happened to me 9 years ago,” he added.
For Kassim and others who survived the disaster, the trauma remains as fresh as ever. Every drop of rain, every clap of thunder, sends shivers down their spines, transporting them back to that harrowing day when their world was turned upside down. Despite the passage of time, the wounds refuse to heal, the memories refuse to fade.
The June 3rd disaster not only claimed lives but also shattered dreams and left behind a trail of devastation that continues to haunt the survivors to this day. For Kassim, the fear of another disaster looms large, a constant specter that lurks in the back of his mind, reminding him of the fragility of life.
Despite the efforts of the government and various organizations to improve disaster preparedness and response, the scars of June 3rd run deep, serving as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance and resilience in the face of nature’s fury.
As Ghana commemorates the 9th anniversary of the disaster, Kassim and others like him stand as living testaments to the enduring impact of that tragic day.
While the physical wounds may have healed, the emotional scars remain as raw as ever, a painful reminder of the lives lost and the lives forever changed by the events of June 3rd, 2015.
As the rain continues to fall outside, Kassim finds solace in the warmth of his home, grateful for another day of survival but wary of what the future may hold. For him, the fear may never truly fade away, but neither will the strength and resilience that have carried him through the darkest of times.
