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12 Burnt in Kumasi Gas Explosion

RESIDENTS OF Krofrom, a suburb of Kumasi, were on Tuesday morning greeted with terrible news of a massive gas explosion at the Trinity Gas Oil Station, which left in its wake severe injuries to twelve people and the destruction of nine vehicles, mainly taxi cabs.

The victims, including a security officer at the station, sustained various degrees of injuries from the inferno which reportedly started at about 7: 40 a.m. While nine of them had been admitted to the Old Tafo Government Hospital the remaining three, whose burns were life threatening, are currently on admission at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).

As at press time yesterday, one of the victims of the explosion was confirmed dead.

The cause of the explosion in the densely-populated community still remains a mystery as residents gave different accounts.

Some residents suspect work being done on some pumps at the station caused the fire, but others claim a tanker that was offloading gas at the time must have caused it.

Residents in nearby homes, who first felt the pungent smell of gas leakage, said they took refuge to avoid being caught in the explosion.

It took fire officers almost an hour to douse the fire after initial support from residents of the community.

Assemblyman

The Assemblyman of the area, Patrick Kwame Frimpong, disclosed that pupils in a nearby school were quickly evacuated by some youth in the area, stressing that the bold and patriotic intervention of the youth averted a worse disaster.

He could not readily tell what might have caused the blaze, except to say that the fire fighters and the security agents would be in a better position to tell.

NADMO

The Ashanti Regional NADMO Coordinator, Kwabena Nsenkyire, who also rushed to the scene, said it was high time the issue of the sighting of gas stations in the middle of communities was given a second look.

“I wrote to the assembly that this place is not appropriate for a gas filling station and I was waiting for a response. Look at the opposite side, I came there purposely to earmark the place and informed them to demolish all these places. The solution lies with the assemblies. They have been empowered to do demolition so everything lies on them, “he told the media.

Kumasi Mayor, Osei Assibey Antwi, who visited the scene, described the aftermath as very sad.

Assistant Fire Officer, Joshua Nguah, would not give details of people alleged to be missing.

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