Ghana has started clearing the site of a major which occurred after a vehicle carrying mining explosives collided with a motorcycle in the village of Apiate and which resulted in at least 17 dead and dozens of injured.
On Friday, Vice-president Mahamadu Bawumia led a government delegation to the site, reaffirming government’s determination to assess the situation and send help.
Seji Saji Amedonu, deputy director-general of the National Disaster Management Organization, says over 500 buildings were destroyed in the explosion and that rescue efforts were still underway.
The truck was owned by a company called Maxama, which was transporting explosives to the Chirano gold mine, according to police. The mine is owned by the Toronto-based Kinross Gold Corporation.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is investigating the cause of the blast and whether the companies involved followed regulations covering transportation of explosives, officials said in a statement.
To forestall a secondary explosion, a joint team of police and military explosion experts has been deployed to examine the situation and put in place the requisite measures.
Early reports indicated that as many as 500 houses and structures in Appiatse have been destroyed.
Earlier, Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo took to twitter to extend his condolences to the families of the deceased, and as well as wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
He added that his Government will spare no effort to ensure a rapid return to a situation of normalcy for residents of Apiate.
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