Ghana: Over 100 people hospitalized after massive gas explosion

A gas explosion in Ghana’s Western Region has left over 100 people hospitalized. The incident occurred on Tuesday morning during the discharge of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at the premises of a household utilities manufacturing company.

The state-owned Daily Graphic reports that the injured persons who were all rushed to three medical facilities were responding to treatment. The injured included four firemen, three motor traffic officials and a newspaper vendor.

The resulting explosion from the incident in Sekondi/Takoradi (capital of Ghana’s oil-rich region) was reportedly heard metres away and broke louvre blades in nearby houses and offices.

The cause of the explosion was a leaking receptacle at the time the LPG was being discharged to giant receptacles. Authorities have yet to issue an official cause of the accident.

The affected gas receptacle was split into two halves after the explosion that was accompanied by a large fireball which resulted in burns that were sustained by affected persons.

Lambark Gas Limited, owners of the tanker that was discharging the gas averted a much graver situation having alerted the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and police of the leakage. Authorities subsequently ordered nearby fuel and gas stations to switch off their pumps and to evacuate.

In December last year, a similar explosion in Ghana’s capital claimed 9 lives whiles 12 other people sustained various degrees of injury.

It took firemen and more than seven fire engines to bring the blaze under control after over three hours. Head of Ghana’s Petroleum Authority, Moses Asaga, later told the media that the explosion was caused by ‘irresponsible human error.’

Mr. Asaga, explained that two bolts which should have tightened the lid on the gas tanker were missing. The pressure of the fully loaded gas tanker was forced out ‘like a missile’ causing the explosion.