Two persons aged seven and fifteen years old, among some sixteen persons caught up in a premix fuel explosion, have Sunday, May 19, 2024, succumbed to their injuries barely twenty-four hours after they were sent to the EFfia Nkwanta Regional Hospital.
The deceased are among 13 victims who were sent to the Effia Nkwanta Regional hospital while the other three are at the Saint Benedict Hospital, Inchaban.
According to the assembly member of Mempeasem – Ngyeresia electoral area, Hon Gabriel Ato Mensah, the incident happened at about 4:00pm on Saturday, May 18, 2024 when some fishermen were transporting premix fuel in gallons to the their canoes along the beach.
He indicated that due to the unavailability of access route from the main road to the beach the fisherfolks often roll the barrels of fuel on the ground to the beach, however this time while transporting the fuel it exploded.
It is suspected that the fuel may have caught fire from a near by fish oven .
The victims include 11 males and 5 females including children , meanwhile four remain in a critical condition.
The blaze also affected two stationary vehicles, a Land Rover and an Opel Astra , as well as wooden structures around.
Fire personnel from the Western Region Headquarters of the Ghana National Fire Service reported to the scene promptly and brought the fire under control.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Sekondi Takoradi, Hon Abdul Mumin Issah has since visited the victims.
By: Kobina Amuah