ACCRA: Fatal Gas Explosion At Atomic Junction (UPDATED)
About 200 security personnel drawn up from the Police and Military service, have been deployed to the scene of a fatal gas explosion that occured at the Atomic Junction off the Madina-Haatso road.
Deputy Minister of Information, Hon Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, confirmed this to the media a short while ago
The fire was first noticed by attendants at a gas station when LPG that was being discharged at Atomic Junction started to leak.
The station attendants saw the leak and evacuated the area. The leaked gas had by then formed a cloud in the sky above the station.
According to reports, a khebab seller opposite the station then started a fire to sell his product (chinchiga).
Unfortunately, the fire shot up into the air and connected with the "gas cloud"; catching fire instantly.
The first explosion was said to be so severe that students of Presec, Legon had to be evacuated.
The sky lit up at about 7:30pm, and from a distance of about 30km away, the explosion could still be visible in the cloudy skies.
Two more explosions subsequently followed causing passers by, commuters and residents in the area to run helter-skelter.
Residents of Haatso, Madina and UPSA area abandoned their homes for dear life.
Details of the gas explosion are still sketchy.
It is unclear if the fire that led to the gas explosion was as a result of an accident or non-adherence to proper safety procedures, but what initially compounded rescue operations, Peacefmonline understands, was the sudden thunderstorm that hit certain parts of Accra, minutes after the gas explosion.
At least 5 cars are said to have been torched, while 7 people are reported to have died.
132 suffered various degree of injuries and were admitted at the 37 Military Hospital, Madina Polyclinic, Pentecost Hospital, Legon Hospital, and the Police Hospital
64 have been discharged, whiles 68 are still on admission.
Personnel from the Fire Service and Police Service are said to be at the scene.
Meanwhile, commuters are advised to keep off the road leading to Madina, Adenta, Oyarifa, Aburi and use alternative routes for now.
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