According to the authorities, a vehicle carrying mining explosives collided with a motorcycle in a town in western Ghana and exploded, killing at least 17 people and wounding dozens.
Hundreds of structures were reduced to piles of wood, brick, and twisted metal in Apiate, near the city of Bogoso, some 300 kilometers (180 miles) west of Accra, per the videos uploaded on social media on Thursday.
“A total of 17 people have unfortunately been confirmed dead, and 59 injured people have been rescued,”
Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said in a statement released overnight.
500 structures were damaged, according to Seji Saji Amedonu, deputy director general of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).
Moreover, a regional emergency officer also claimed to have spotted ten dead bodies.
How the accident occurred
A motorbike collided with an explosives-laden vehicle on its way to Kinross’ Chirano gold mine.
The event happened 140 kilometers (87 miles) from the mine, according to a Kinross representative.
“I saw complete devastation of the community called Apiate. As we speak, the community is dead, it cannot be inhabited by anyone.”
Francis Abeiku Yankah, a NADMO coordinator for Prestea Huni-Valley, informed TV3 broadcaster
The president’s tweet
“It is a truly sad, unfortunate and tragic incident, and I extend, on behalf of Government, deep condolences to the families of the deceased, and I wish the injured a speedy recovery”
I have just received a briefing on the circumstances that led to an explosion in Apiate near Bogoso, in the Western Region, resulting in the loss of lives and the destruction of properties belonging to residents. 1/4
— Nana Akufo-Addo (@NAkufoAddo) January 20, 2022
The police department
The public was advised to “move out of the vicinity to neighbouring towns for their safety while recovery activities are underway,” according to a police statement.
Per the police, nearby municipalities have been ordered to make public places, such as schools and churches, available to survivors.
