Scores killed in Deadly Ghana Petrol Station Explosion

At least 78 people have been killed in an explosion at a petrol station in the Ghanaian capital Accra, the fire service told local media.

People taking refuge in the station during a heavy downpour were killed in the explosion, local media reports.

The fire department in still removing bodies from the petrol station near Mkrumah Circle, Citi FM reported.

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About a dozen people were taken to hospital after the blast, which is believed to have been an accident linked to the downpour, Prince Billy Anaglate said, reports Reuters.

The floods have cut power supplies across much of the city, and left many homeless.

“Many suburbs of Accra and surrounding parts have been heavily affected leading to heavy restriction of movement of people,” the Ministry of Communications said in a statement. “The general public is kindly advised to avoid fast moving rainwater, and areas they know have big drains. Stay on higher ground, where necessary, to prevent loss of life.”

Later, the Ghanaian president, John Mahama, visited the scene, offering condolences and help to the families of the victims. He described the explosion as “catastrophic and unprecedented”.

“Many people took shelter under a shed at the station during a severe rain across the country and got trapped when the explosion happened,” Michael Plange, who lives a few blocks away, told Associated Press.

Images from the scene showed the remains of at least six vehicles under a charred petrol station canopy. 

Accra’s city authorities had already been under pressure to declare a state of emergency after hours of heavy rain caused severe flooding in and around the capital.

Britain’s high commissioner to Ghana, Jon Benjamin, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, in a posting on Twitter.

Category: World News

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