At least 14 persons have been reported injured in a gas explosion on Wednesday at Mighty Gas Filling Station, a subsidiary of Kings Energy Company Limited, at Ho in the Volta Region.
The cause of the explosion is yet to be established, fire officials said.
However, fire fighters have managed to bring the situation under control, averting a possible spread to nearby structures in the vicinity.
Asaase Radio’s Volta Regional correspondent, Albert Kuzor, who visited the Ho Teaching Hospital, where the victims were rushed for treatment, quoted a hospital official to have said one person is battling for his life at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
“Doctors and nurses are trying hard to get them the best of care. They are badly burnt, but are responding to treatment. Only one person has been sent to the ICU. Fourteen injured persons were brought here; 12 males and two females,” the Spokesperson of the Ho Teaching Hospital, Amos Tsa, told Asaase News.
“I heard a loud sound [and] right after that was a fire,” a traumatised cleaner at the gas station, who wants to remain anonymous, told Asaase News. She added that about “five of the (injured) guys including taxi drivers” who were at the station to buy fuel were rushed to the Ho Teaching Hospital – a few miles away from the station.
Suspension of operation
Management of Mighty Gas Station has suspended operations following the explosion. An official statement from the company said: “Our sincerest sympathies to all injured and the general public of this sad event. We wish casualties a speedy recovery. To ensure continues safety of both staff and customers, the Gas station is closed temporarily to allow for thorough assessment, repairs and improvements.”
The Ghana National Fire Service has begun investigation into the cause of the incident and is expected to issue an official statement on the incident shortly.
EPA warning
Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has warned it will soon close down Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LGP) stations without trained and certified attendants.
EPA said it would renew the environmental permits of LPG stations based on the evidence of training of the staff of the company.
This was contained in a speech read on behalf of the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, Mr Henry Kokofu, at the opening of a three-day training programme for managers, supervisors and pump attendants of LPG companies in the Eastern Region at Koforidua.
The programme, which started last year, aimed to train LPG station pump attendants and managers on safety and best international practices in the handling of LPG.
Fred Dzakpata
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