The death toll from the Atomic Junction gas explosions and fire outbreak in Accra has risen to seven, figures from the emergency services have shown.
Initial figures released early Sunday put the figures at six deaths with 35 people injured but Deputy Communication Minister, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah told TV3 on Midday Live that one more death has been recorded as at 11:30am Sunday.
Currently, the figures show 132 people were injured in the explosions reportedly caused by a gas leakage from one of two gas filling stations at the Atomic Junction enclave, which caught fire and extended to an adjacent Total Fuel Station.
Sixty-four of the injured who were rushed to various hospitals have since Sunday afternoon been treated and discharged while 68 others are still receiving treatment.
Hundreds of passengers, traders and residents in and around the Atomic Junction area fled their homes and workplaces for safety as two explosions lit the skies and caused severe heat waves Saturday night.
Electricity supply to most part of the area was cut off as some transformers were affected. Most parts of Accra have since Sunday dawn also gone off but it is not clear whether that is related to the explosion. Amidst the chaos, speeding vehicles, which were also trying to flee the scene, reportedly knocked down some people who were escaping from the scene. Some of the affected are said to have died while others have been injured.
READ: Gov’t kickstarts new policy to end recurring explosions at fuel stations
Mr. Oppong-Nkrumah announced that government has resolved to absolve the medical expenses of the injured, saying, “The injured persons will have their medical expenses taken care of”.
He added: “The president [Nana Akufo-Addo] has been on the phone lines speaking to some of the key persons managing the situation”
What we know now
The initial reports were received between 6:40 and 6:50pm Saturday night and the first distress call was placed to the Fire Station at about 7:18pm.
Within 15 minutes the nearest fire tenders were already at the location to try and contain the situation.
About 200 police officers were also immediately deployed within the vicinity to manage the roads leading to the area and to cordon the disaster scene.
Ambulance services were also deployed quickly to convey the injured to the various health facilities nearby.
About five medical facilities within have been received victims of the explosions.
Investigations are set to begin shortly to establish the exact cause(s) that led to the explosion and subsequent fire outbreak at the gas station and the Total Fuel Station.
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