K’si gas explosion, 2 confirmed dead

Two of the victims of the Kumasi gas explosion have been confirmed dead at the KomfoAnokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).

Collins Obeng and Jacob Williams were among three victims, who were rushed to the hospital in critical condition on Tuesday.

While Obeng died on Tuesday afternoon, Williams passed on the morning of Wednesday.

Mr. Ernest Ekow Abban, Principal Administrative Manager of the Public Affairs Unit of KATH, confirmed to the Ghanaian Times here, and said the third victim, Alex Oduro, is responding to treatment.

Oduro received severe bodily burns when the fire swept through a nearby fitting shop where he worked, and the other victims, who were also rushed to the Tafo Pankrono Hospital, are responding to treatment.

Meanwhile investigations by the Ghanaian Times indicated that Obeng, an electrician, was called upon by the management of the Trinity Gas station at Krofrom in the Kumasi metropolis to rectify a leakage that had started off three days earlier.

Obeng was said to have gone there in the company of Williams and in the course of work, there was a pungent smell of gas, leading to an explosion.

About 27 cars were burnt beyond recognition when the fire ravaged the nearby car fitting shop.

Personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service had a tough time combating the fire as plume of smoke was visible several kilometres away.

The cause of the explosion was yet to be established but it was believed to have been caused by a fire from a refuse dump site opposite the gas filling station.

On Tuesday, the chief executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Osei Assibey Antwi visited the scene, and gave the assurance that the gas filling station would be relocated.

He said management of gas filling stations have been tasked to make available fire tenders during off-loading of gas and other activities.

Ashanti Regional Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Kwabena Nsenkyire, blamed the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Petroleum Authority and assembly members of the Kumasi metropolis for not being up to task.

Many residents who interacted with this paper complained that calls to the authorities for the relocation of the station had fallen on deaf ears.

The gas station shares a wall with a school and is also surrounded by several houses and seven churches.

FROM KINGSLEY E.HOPE, KUMASI 

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