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APPIATSE EXPLOSION: 17 dead and 59 injured from Chirano mines explosive disaster

17 people have been confirmed dead and 59 others with various degrees of injuries from the Appiatse explosion near Bogosu in the Western Region, a government statement has announced. The explosion has reduced the town into rubbles, with the police encouraging the unaffected inhabitants to move to nearby communities.

Thursday afternoon’s explosion resulted from a collision involving a truck transporting mining explosive to the Chirano Gold Mines, a motorcycle and a third vehicle near an electricity transformer in the town of Appiatse.

A statement signed by Minister for Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah announced the establishment of a National Emergency Response Mechanism. The Emergency team will provide their first briefing from the site of the accident at 11am on Friday.

Government has meanwhile mobilised and dispatched additional personnel and resources to the community to support the response effort. Government has also deployed a joint team of police and military explosion experts to to examine the situation and put in place the requisite measures to forestall a secondary explosion.

“An alternative route has been created to facilitate the movement of stranded vehicles plying that route. All hospitals within the vicinity are being used to treat injured persons, and an evacuation plan has been activated to move those in critical condition to medical facilities in Accra so they can get the needed assistance,” the Information Minister said.

President Nana Akufo-Addo in a post on Facebook described the explosion as sad and unfortunate. 

“I have just received a briefing on the circumstances that led to an explosion in Appiatse near Bogoso, in the Western Region, resulting in the loss of lives and the destruction of properties belonging to residents.”

“It is a truly sad, unfortunate and tragic incident”, he added.

The Police are continuing to urge the public to remain calm as it manages the situation.

President Akufo-Addo is expected to visit the accident scene after the situation there has been brought under considerable control.

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