Accra: At least 13 people have been killed in a huge explosion near a mining town in south-western Ghana, officials say. A truck carrying explosives to a gold mine crashed on motorcycle near the town of Bogoso, according to police. According to reports, rescue workers were still searching through the rubble for victims. Many houses have been completely flattened, leaving at least 380 people without shelter. "It's almost like a ghost town," Sedzi Sadzi Amedonu, a senior official from the country's disaster management agency, said.
The impact of the explosion has left a crater on the major highway, forcing the police to divert traffic. Local police commander William Jabialu said the number of confirmed deaths had been revised down to 13 from a previous toll of 17. He said another 45 were being treated in local hospitals.
The truck was carrying explosives to the Chirano gold mine when it was hit by a motorcycle, police say. This reportedly caused a fire, leading to the explosion. The driver of the truck managed to escape the blast with minor injuries. He warned residents to flee, which helped save many lives. Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo said the military had joined emergency efforts to help "contain the situation", and "rapid relief" was being sent to residents. People have been told to move out of the area and police called on nearby towns to "open up their classrooms, churches etc to accommodate surviving victims".
