130 people injured in gas explosion in Ghana

KUMASI: A gas explosion in Ghana's second-largest city Kumasi has wounded about 130 people, a hospital official said late Saturday.

"Initially 123 people were brought in and late in the night about seven more came," Stephen Opuni, head of the accident and emergency centre at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, said.

No deaths were reported from the Friday accident. Opuni feared the injury toll may be higher than 130.

"People were rushing anywhere where they could get medical attention," he said.

He said many of those who went to Komfo Anokye had been treated and discharged, while at least 10 remained in intensive care.

The incident occurred as a gas tanker was discharging liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at a filling station at the city's Asokwa suburb.

Witnesses said the blast shook buildings within an estimated 3-kilometre (1.9-mile) radius.

Kwame Ofori, a witness, said that a tube connecting the fuel tanker to the receptacle at the gas station came off and the escaped LPG came into contact with a nearby electricity generator.

"Suddenly the generator caught fire and the entire place was in flames," he said.

Haruna Amadu, who works in an office nearby, was injured by the flames. "I heard a sound like a balloon," he said. "I did not see what actually hit me."

A panel has been set up to investigate the explosion, but at least one official said it was clear what had gone wrong.

"It's a human error. The one doing the job did not adhere to safety standards," Frank Arthur of the National Petroleum Authority said.

"They couldn't fix the hose properly and as they were discharging the gas it came off. The whole place was filled with gas ... and within 30 minutes the whole place was caught up in fire," he said.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com