The Atomic Junction explosion has once again revived calls for something meaningful to be done about gas station safety in Ghana.
It is no longer news that there were two massive explosions at Madina Atomic Junction on the evening of Saturday, October 7. A total of seven people perished in the gross inferno that resulted from the explosions, while about 132 others sustained various degrees of injury.
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Properties in form of vehicles, building and other valuable facilities around the area were also destroyed by fire. While some of the deceased have been identified, the injured are receiving treatments in various hospitals in the capital depending on the severity of their injuries.
President Nana Akufo-Addo on Sunday, paid a visit to the casualties in the hospital. Former President John Mahama in a condolence message to affected families, called on Ghanaians to lend helping hands to victims of the Atomic Junction explosion.
Vice President Mahamamudu Bawumia has also vowed to ensure that new policies are put in place and also fiercely enforced to prevent a repeat of such incidents.
A member of the Presidential Press Corps has been identified as one of the seven persons who died on Saturday following the Atomic Junction gas explosion in Accra.
Mohammed Ashley, a cameraman, who was capturing the scenes of the accident, has been confirmed as the person who reportedly fell to his death from the flyover at Atomic junction. The late Ashley was a reporter (Camera Man) at Net 2, an Accra-based television station.
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Reports indicate that, the deceased, who lived close to the area, rushed to the scene with his camera upon hearing the explosive sounds. While recording, he reportedly jumped off the footbridge out of panic and suffered severe burns which led to his death.
Atomic Junction Explosion, Not the First of its Kind!
Incidents of gas explosions and other forms of fire outbreaks in Ghana, are in fact becoming more disgraceful than saddening, considering the frequency of such occurrences.
Records reveal that the Atomic Junction Explosion is the fourth fatal fire incident that emanated from a gas station in the country within a space of two years. Recall the Takoradi gas explosion which injured many, the Labadi gas explosion which claimed six lives and injured scores counts among them. The ugly incident had left 5 dead on the spot, and over 30 others seriously injured, out of which the minister’s sister counted among those who did not survive their injuries.
Nobody even wants to call to memory the gory June 3 incident which claimed close to 200 lives.
Among several other factors that contribute to gas explosions across the country, the careless siting of gas stations and fire risk factories is prominent. Meanwhile, the question is, what has been done about to curb the menace all these while?
Ghanaians are sincerely hoping that it is not the mass death of all the country’s citizens that will eventually move concerned authorities to look into the menace for good.
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