Dozens of killed Deadly explosion in Western Ghana, 59 injured
New Delhi: At least 17 people and over 59 were severely injured in a massive explosion in Ghana’s rural Western Region on Thursday. Dozens of people are feared dead after a truck carrying mining explosives collided with a motorcycle in western Ghana, sparking an explosion that has left hundreds of buildings destroyed.
The accident happened around noon in Apiate, near the mining city of Bogoso, 300km (180 miles) west of the West African country’s capital, Accra. Unverified videos posted on social media showed a large, smoldering blast site in which buildings had been reduced to piles of wood, brick, and twisted metal.
The exact number of casualties has not been officially confirmed yet, but the head of the Prestea Huni-Valley municipal government where the explosion took place, Isaac Dsamani, told local media that officials had counted “about 17 dead bodies” so far.
Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo said the blast was “a truly sad, unfortunate and tragic incident”, adding in his statement that it had caused “the loss of lives and the destruction of properties”.
The extent of the destruction and casualties caused by the blast has sent shock waves through Ghana. Emergency services said were continuing rescue efforts in the town and most of the surviving victims had been rescued – many found trapped in collapsed homes and buildings.
(_Vinayak)
