As of press time yesterday at least seven (7) people were confirmed dead with over one hundred and thirty-two (132) people seriously injured in the Madina-Atomic junction gas blast last Saturday night.
Several people who are reported to be in critical conditions have been placed at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the 37 Military Hospital, Legon, Madina and Ridge Hospitals, all in Accra.
Meanwhile, several others including children are reported missing.
Among the seven deaths, six died on admission at the 37 Military Hospital while the other one was brought in dead.
Two filling stations at Atomic junction were swallowed up in flames after a gas station around the area exploded on Saturday night.
The fire, which was reported to have started at about 7:00 p.m., on Saturday night, also caught an adjacent filling station, and set ablaze many vehicles at a nearby taxi and commercial bus hub.
The police who were at the site of the explosion, Mansco Gas Filling Station yesterday morning, managed to cordon off the area to prevent drivers and commuters from using the road.
A statement from the Presidency yesterday confirmed that as at 11:30 a.m., Sunday, at least seven people were confirmed dead and 132 injured from the gas blast at Atomic junction.
The statement, signed by the Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid, noted that out of those injured, sixty-four (64) persons were discharged from various hospitals with 68 others still receiving treatment.
According to the statement, while government expressed its condolence to families of the deceased and the injured in the unfortunate incident, it also commended the Fire Service, Ambulance Service and Ghana Police Service for their quick control and rescue exercise.
“An investigation has commenced into the cause of the explosion and shall be followed with firm action to forestall similar future recurrences. Any injured persons who may have been evacuated from the scene on their own should kindly inform the Ghana Police Hospital of their location,” the statement advised.
Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, yesterday morning visited the site of the blast to get first-hand update. He equally visited a number of hospitals to comfort and support the injured.
Meanwhile, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has expressed that he is devastated hearing news of the gas explosion at Atomic Junction in Accra.
“The news of last night’s gas explosion at Atomic junction, resulting in the loss of lives and injuries to several others, has left me devastated,” he said on Twitter.
The president, who lamented the incident, took to his Twitter handle to express condolences to the bereaved families as well as those injured.
“My deepest condolences to the families of the bereaved, and I wish the injured speedy recovery,” he added.
Former President, John Dramani Mahama, in a similar tweet yesterday, also expressed his grief following the gas explosion.
He called on Ghanaians to assist all those who had been affected by the incident.
“I feel their pain. In our own small way, let’s all extend a helping hand to those affected by the sad incident,” John Mahama tweeted.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and families of those affected by Saturday’s gas explosion at the Atomic Junction near Madina.”
Story: Kofi Owusu Tawiah
