Mary Aziz Tunde
At least 17 people have been killed and about 60 others injured in the devastating explosion that occurred in the western Region town of Apiate, near Bogoso January 20, 2022.
It happened when a truck carrying explosives intended for a mine collided with a motorcycle.The blast left a huge crater and destroyed dozens of buildings and other property.
The incident which occurred as a result of an accident involving a truck conveying explosives for a mining company, a motorcycle and a third vehicle close to an electricity transformer, reduced the town of Apiate to rubble, killing inhabitants and injuring scores of persons.
According to a Police statement, one Isaac Kamanim of the Firearms Unit at Tarkwa was escorting explosives from MAXAM Company, in a DAF van with registration no. WR 2252-18 driven by Alfred Pappoe to Chirano Gold Mines.
At a section of the road between Bogoso and Bawdie, a motorcycle rider from the opposite direction ran under the van carrying the explosives.
The motorcycle caught fire, ignited the van which burst into flames and exploded. The Driver sustained a deep cut on the head and was rushed to the Tarkwa Government Hospital.
The Police escort escaped unhurt. Extensive damage was caused to a nearby ECG transformer and a number of nearby buildings were razed down. Some vehicles plying that road were damaged, as passengers and inhabitants sustained various degrees of injury.
Officials and eyewitnesses described a scene of desolation against the sea of buildings collapsed or impaired in the carnage, describing it as ”Black Thursday”.
Deputy Coordinator NADMO, Sedzi Sadzi Amedonu, told reporters on the ground that the place is now almost like a ghost town. An eyewitness, Abena Mintah, who saw the blast, said the driver of the truck dropped down from his hatch, shouting at those nearby to warn them away from the flaming vehicle.
She said, ”within a few minutes they heard a loud bang, and she felt dizzy and fell in the bush. She managed to get up and saw a few dismembered bodies on the street.’’
Government said those in critical condition have been moved to hospitals in Accra and Police have asked surrounding villages to open their schools and churches to accommodate any additional casualties.
A government statement said a team of Police and army explosion experts have been deployed to “avoid a secondary explosion” and put in place security measures after the blast.
