A desperate rush for petrol turned catastrophic on Saturday at Ntoaso on the Accra–Kumasi Highway near Nsawam, when a broken-down fuel tanker exploded into a raging fireball, killing three people, injuring 20 others, and destroying seven vehicles.
According to eyewitness accounts and emergency responders at the scene, the tanker developed a mechanical fault and came to a halt along the busy highway.
Instead of staying clear of the obvious danger, residents, motor riders and some motorists gathered around the vehicle to siphon fuel.
In a shocking escalation, individuals reportedly used chisels and metal tools to pierce the tanker, forcing petrol to gush onto the road. Within minutes, the area became a highly volatile death trap.
The leaked petrol ignited suddenly, triggering a violent explosion and a massive blaze that engulfed people and vehicles nearby, leading to motorcycles, a taxi and other vehicles that had drawn close to collect fuel consumed by the flames.
Among the most heartbreaking scenes was a woman carrying a baby, who suffered severe burns, while attempting to collect fuel, in the chaos, a by-stander managed to snatch the baby and run to safety, saving the child’s life.
Two men inside a taxi that had moved close to siphon fuel were burnt to death on the spot with several others sustained serious burn injuries whilst the tanker driver was also badly burnt and is currently battling for his life. Other victims were rushed to the Nsawam Government Hospital for treatment.
Although the fire spread to a VIP passenger bus, an even greater tragedy was narrowly avoided when the bus driver acted swiftly, evacuating all passengers before the flames fully consumed the vehicle while the bus was badly burnt, no passenger lost their life.
The Eastern South Regional Police Commander, DCOP Boadi Bossman, confirmed the casualty figures, after visiting victims at the Nsawam Government Hospital.
He stated that 20 injured victims were initially admitted, six with severe burns have been referred to the Koforidua Government Hospital for intensive care, four have been treated and discharged, and ten remain on admission.
Three people, made up of two men and one woman, have died from their injuries. DCOP Bossman stressed that unauthorized fuel siphoning significantly worsened the situation.
“Anytime a tanker falls or breaks down, nobody should go near it. The container is flammable and can explode,” he warned, adding that police have repeatedly educated communities along the highway about the dangers, yet risky behaviour persists.
He revealed that in some cases, officers attempting to secure such scenes have even been attacked with stones.
Security agencies including the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana National Fire Service and NADMO are managing the aftermath, clearing debris, securing the area and restoring order.
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The post Fuel Siphoning Tragedy Leaves 3 Dead, 20 Injured at Nsawam appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.
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