04 June 2015, Accra – A huge explosion at a petrol station in Ghana’s capital Accra has killed at least 90 people and set alight neighbouring buildings after floods swept stored fuel into a nearby fire, according to authorities.
The blast happened on Thursday as dozens of people sought shelter at the petrol station and in nearby shops in central Accra to escape the torrential rains.
The disaster raised anew concerns over the city’s inadequate infrastructure.
Al Jazeera’s Ama Boateng, reporting from Accra, said the city and the rest of Ghana have been experiencing torrential rains.
“This is a very busy area of Accra. Lots of people. Lots of car traffic. And because of the heavy rains people gathered at this gas station to seek shelter and this explosion happened,” she said.
TV footage showed corpses being piled into the back of a pickup vehicle and other charred bodies trapped amid the debris.
Floodwaters around the site hampered rescue and recovery efforts.
Officials at the nearby 37 Military Hospital said its morgue had reached capacity.
– Al Jazeera