17 people die when truck crashes into motorcycle

At least 17 people die and 500 houses are damaged when truck carrying explosives crashes into motorcycle in Ghana

  • 17 people were killed and at least 59 injured when a truck carrying explosives to a gold mine in western Ghana collided with a motorcycle
  • The collision set off an explosion that flattened a rural community, the government said on Friday 
  • Social media videos shows hundreds of buildings reduced to piles of wood, rubble and twisted metal
  • Dead bodies were crumpled on the ground surrounded by debris from the crash
  • One photo shared by a local politician showed a yawning crater at the epicentre of the blast, onlookers peering down from its rim 

At least 17 people were killed and scores injured when a truck carrying explosives to a gold mine in western Ghana collided with a motorcycle, setting off an explosion that flattened a rural community, the government said on Friday.

As rescuers combed the site for survivors, videos posted on local media showed hundreds of buildings reduced to piles of wood, rubble and twisted metal, and dead bodies crumpled on the ground surrounded by debris.

A photo shared by a local politician showed a yawning crater at the epicentre of the blast, onlookers peering down from its rim.

At least 17 people were killed in a blast in western Ghana yesterday after a motorcycle collided with a vehicle carrying explosive material

An additional 59 people were injured in the massive explosion on Thursday, said AFP

Seji Saji Amedonu, deputy director general of the National Disaster Management Organisation said around 500 buildings were destroyed and that rescue efforts were still under way.

The blast occurred on Thursday in Apiate, a settlement between the towns of Bogoso and Bawdie, when a motorcycle fell under a truck owned by a company called Maxam that was transporting explosives to the Chirano gold mine, run by Toronto-based Kinross Gold Corporation, police said.

Kinross confirmed the incident and said it was monitoring the situation and rescue efforts. Maxam could not be reached for comment.

The blast appeared to have completely leveled Apiate, a small town in western Ghana

Police said most of the victims have been rescued and admitted to various hospitals and clinics (Pictured: large crater in the ground created by the explosion)

Survivors of the accident are in a critical condition after being evacuated to medical facilities in the capital Accra, the government said

The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is investigating the cause of the blast and whether the companies involved followed regulations covering transportation of explosives, it said in a statement.

Survivors in critical condition are being evacuated to medical facilities in the capital Accra, the government said.

The rubble at the scene following the explosion in Apiate on Thursday was substantial 

Ghana has experienced a number of gas explosions recently. One of the country´s worst explosions lately killed more than 150 people in Accra in 2015. 

The tradegy occurred as hundreds of residents took refuge at a gas station from heavy rainfall. 

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