Accra: At least 17 people were killed and 59 were injured on Thursday in a great explosion in West Ghana City after a truck carrying explosives collided with motorbikes, the government said.
The explosion left a large crater and reduced dozens of buildings with a pile of wood and metal covered in dust, near the city of Bogoso about 300 kilometers (180 miles) west of the capital of West African countries that are rich in minerals.
The recording showed the locals rushed to a raging fire and raised black smoke to examine damage, while rescue workers naved debris for survivors trapped in destruction.
“A total of 17 people unfortunately have been confirmed to die, and 59 injured people have been saved,” said Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah in a statement released last night.
The minister said the initial signs showed “accidents involving trucks carrying explosive materials for mining companies, motorbikes and third vehicles” which occur near the electrical transformer.
Of the 59 people who were injured, 42 received care in hospitals or health centers and “some in critical conditions”, Nkrumah added.
President Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo called it “truly sad, unfortunate and tragic incident”.
The government said they were in critical condition would be transferred to hospitals in Accra and the police asked the surrounding villages to open their school and church to accommodate additional victims.
A police team and the Army explosion team were deployed to “avoid the second explosion” and put security measures after the explosion, the government said in a press release.