Kumasi, June 29, GNA - Mr. Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, Minority Leader in Parliament, at the weekend visited the bereaved families of the two people who were reported dead when their house collapsed after a downpour at Kronom Kyekyere near Kumasi.

Kwaku Boateng, a 60 year-old Labourer and his Wife Ama Amponsah, 51, a petty trader, and their son were drowned when River Owabi overflowed its bank and ran through a single room, which was built along the river bank, collapsing it.

He expressed shock at the incident and expressed his condolences to the bereaved families.

Mr. Mensah-Bonsu, who is also Member of Parliament for Suame, expressed worry about the increasing rate at which people were putting up buildings and structures in flood-prone areas. He warned landlords, landladies and estate developers to desist from constructing houses and structures in water ways. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kwaku Duah of the Suame Divisional Crime Officer confirmed the tragedy to GNA and said the boy, who was rescued, survived.

He said the Chief of the area (whose name was not mentioned) alerted the Police and with the assistance of personnel from the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) and some residents, they retrieved the bodies of the couple from the river. DSP Duah said the bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) mortuary in Kumasi for autopsy.