(ANSA) - ACCRA, 21 JAN - At least 17 people died and 59 others were injured in the huge explosion that took place yesterday near the mining town of Bogoso, in western Ghana, caused by an accident involving a truck carrying explosive material .
This was announced today by the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah.
The explosion occurred around 12 in Appiatse, about 300km west of Accra, the capital of this West African country rich in mineral resources. According to the first information, it is "an accident involving a truck carrying explosive material for a mining company, a motorcycle and a third vehicle, which occurred near an electrical transformer and led to the explosion," Oppong-Nkrumah explained in a statement. Of the 59 people injured, 42 are currently hospitalized in health centers and "some are in critical condition," the minister said.
All nearby hospitals have been mobilized to treat the injured and an evacuation plan has been activated to transport critically ill people to Accra medical facilities so they can receive treatment, the government said.
"To avoid a second explosion, a joint squad of police and army explosion experts was deployed to investigate the situation and implement security measures," the statement said.
(HANDLE).
