Skip to main content

Blast at Ghana petrol station kills about 90 people

 The blast was caused by a fire that erupted at a nearby lorry terminal then spread to the petrol station and other buildings, fire brigade spokesman Prince Billy Anaglate said.
An explosion at a petrol station in Ghana's capital Accra killed about 90 people, many of whom had sought shelter there from torrential rain, on Wednesday night, the fire brigade said.
The blast was caused by a fire that erupted at a nearby lorry terminal then spread to the petrol station and other buildings, fire brigade spokesman Prince Billy Anaglate said.
It ripped through the filling station, operated by GOIL , shattering windows and walls and reducing the station to rubble.
"It was an explosive fire and so the people sheltering at the filling station did not have an opportunity to escape," Anaglate said.
Firefighters battled the blaze into the early hours while police and soldiers joined emergency crews helping rescue people trapped in the wreckage, Accra Mayor Oko Vanderpuije said.
Charred corpses and wreckage of about a dozen cars and mini buses littered the forecourt of the station, where security forces kept an anxious crowd behind a police cordon.
A Reuters reporter at the scene saw some charred bodies in cars where they had sought refuge.
Team of rescuers wearing face masks and gloves went in to the filling station with stretchers to remove the remaining bodies, all of which were unrecognisable.
Initial signs suggested the fire started by accident, Anaglate said.
Floods from several hours of heavy downpour submerged buildings and vehicles across Accra on Wednesday.
President John Mahama, who visited the area, said he was heartbroken by the heavy loss of lives and damage.
He blamed the floods partly on people building homes and businesses on waterways, blocking the city's drainage systems. Ghana's meteorological service there could be more rains on Thursday.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

In Taraba 15 confirmed dead after attacks by Fulani herdsmen

The herdsmen invaded four villages in the Gashaka Local Government Area of the state and caused many villagers to flee. 15 people have been confirmed dead in Taraba State after attacks by Fulani herdsmen. The herdsmen invaded four villages in the Gashaka Local Government Area of the state and caused many villagers to flee. The casualty figure was given by Taraba State Police Commissioner, Shaba Alkali on Tuesday, April 12, 2016. “A group of people numbering about twenty, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, invaded and attacked Dori and Mesuma villages via Garbabi ward, Gashaka LGA, and burnt some thatch-houses, forcing the villagers to flee into the villages of Mayo-Selbe and Sabon Gida for safety,” Alkali said according to Daily Post. “Eight people were killed in Dori village while seven were also killed in Mesuma. My detectives are around Bali area to make sure that those that...

C.O.D United appoints Paulo Jorge Silva as new Manager...

C.O.D United Football Club has announced the appointment of Paulo Jorge Silva as their new Manager. Jorge, Portuguese, joins C.O.D United on the back of a rich career having worked in various capacities with clubs like VfB Stuttgart, Greuther Furth, Nuremberg, Aalen in Germany, Sporting Lisbon in Portugal, Al Wasl and Sharjah FC in the United Arab Emirates.  His immediate task is reorganize and optimize the club’s 7 team academy structure and lead the club’s charge in the league as well as the FA Cup next season. Speaking on Paulo Silva’s appointment, C.E.O of the club , Shola Opaleye expressed optimism that Paulo will sustain the successes the club has achieved and bring even more success. “Paulo Silva’s appointment is yet another demonstration of our ambition as a club to keep progressing. Paulo joins us with a lot of experience and his knowledge of football is demonstrated by the rich array of top clubs he has worked with. We have been in discussions for a while now and w...

Court Orders Final Forfeiture Of Assets Linked To Diezani

The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of assets linked to Diezani Alison Madueke and five others. The assets comprise of 18 companies  and several properties located in the United Kingdom, Nigeria, and the United States. The properties are listed as 21 mixed housing units of 8 terrace units of 4 bedrooms each all ensuite, six three bedroom apartments all ensuite and some other property located at Thoburn Street in the Yaba area of Lagos. Others are 16 four bedroom terrace houses located at Heritage Court Estate, GRA Extension, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, 13 three bedroom terrace houses located at Mabushi Gardens Estate, Abuja and 6 flats of three bedrooms, a lawn tennis court, gym, garden and other appurtenances located at Plot 808, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos. Four companies, Chapel Properties Ltd, Blue Nile Estate Ltd, Azinge Meadows Ltd and Vistapoint Property Development were allegedly used to acquire the properties.