“The reports that I’m getting from the bureaus, hospitals, is that [there are] roughly about 17 people that have passed away,” Isaac Dasmani, the municipal chief govt for the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipal Assembly, advised native media.
An extra 59 individuals have been injured within the explosion, in response to AFP.
The blast appeared to have fully leveled Apiate, a small city in western Ghana. Kwadwo Bempah, who works within the space and heard the explosion, advised CNN that almost each constructing there had collapsed, trapping individuals and animals beneath rubble.
“It is a real tragedy for Ghana,” Bempah mentioned.
Police mentioned many of the victims have been rescued and admitted to varied hospitals and clinics. No extra particulars have been launched on their situation.
“The police and other emergency service providers have activated a full emergency recovery exercise,” a police assertion mentioned. “We urge all to remain calm as we manage this unfortunate situation.”
“The police have taken charge of the situation providing security to enable the emergency workers including the Ghana National Fire Service, NADMO and the Ambulance Service to manage the situation,” one other assertion learn.
“The public has been advised to move out of the area to nearby towns for their safety while recovery efforts are underway,” it added.
The police assertion urged close by cities to open lecture rooms, church buildings and different buildings to accommodate surviving victims.
Apiate, Bempah mentioned, is small and residential, with a inhabitants of not more than 10,000. “Most of the people are farmers and miners,” he mentioned.
In the preliminary aftermath of the accident, Bempah mentioned the area people stepped in as first responders, pulling individuals and animals from collapsed particles and dashing the wounded to hospitals earlier than ambulances arrived.
The explosives have been being delivered to a close-by mine run by Chirano Gold Mines, in response to a press officer for the corporate, Kwabena Owusu-Ampratwum.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and the rescue efforts,” Owusu-Ampratwum mentioned.
In the identical month, three individuals died in one other blaze within the nation’s Ashanti area.
CNN’s Taylor Barnes contributed.
