22 die in Petrol Tanker explosion

Third Major Accident This Month ...Claiming Over 60 Lives
Techiman (B/A), Nov. 26, GNA - About 22 persons who were scooping petrol from a Petrol Tanker that was involved in an accident perished when the tanker caught fire. The tanker, with registration number GR 5145 Y, was involved in the accident at about 0700 hours at Asiayem on the Techiman-Kumasi road when the brakes allegedly failed and it plunged into a valley.

Many of the deceased including women and schoolchildren were residents of Tanoso and neighbouring villages who had rushed to the accident scene to scoop the petrol that was oozing out of the tanker. Others also suffered serious burns and were rushed to the Holy Family Hospital. There are fears the death toll may rise. Personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service have however put off the fire.

Briefing the Ghana News Agency, Police Superintendent Solomon K. Ntim, Municipal Police Commander, said the bodies of the deceased were burnt beyond recognition and had been deposited at the hospital. He said the identity of the tanker driver, who also sustained serious injuries and currently on admission at the Holy Family Hospital, is not yet known.
Mr Prince Yaw Donyina, Techiman Municipal Chief Executive, who went to the scene on hearing the accident, expressed his dismay as this was the second accident in a month in the municipality that had claimed many lives. Less than a month ago, a Mercedes Benz bus carrying mourners to Sunyani was involved in an accident on the Sunyani-Techiman road killing 22 of them, he said. The MCE advised the general public and motorists to obey road regulations to avoid such accidents.