Minister Orders Probe Into Gas Explosion

The Ashanti Regional Minister, Emmanuel Owusu Ansah, has instituted a committee to investigate the cause of a gas explosion at Asokwa, a Kumasi surburb last Friday that injured over 200 people.

It will also look at the sitting of all other LPG gas stations in the metropolis to decide whether they should be relocated or not.

The committee is to submit its report this Wednesday, September 26.

The Regional Minister disclosed this on Saturday when the Ashanti Regional Security Committee visited the scene of the explosion and met with some of the discharged injured people in their various homes.

Some 200 people were seriously injured when a huge gas cylinder being conveyed on an articulated truck exploded at the Engas Company Limited, dealers in LPG products at Asokwa.

The injuries were caused by the spontaneous uncontrolled emissions of flames from the burning cylinder.

The front of the truck was split into two as a result of the impact of the explosion with one side of it landing on the roof of a school which was about 200 yards away.

Fifteen vehicles parked at a machine shop near the LPG gas station were burnt to ashes.

The glass windows of two hotels, Texas and Georgia listed to host CAN 2008 guests were smashed.

While Texas Hotel is a stone?s throw from the gas station, Hotel Georgia is 400 metres away.

Out of the 200 persons injured, 130 was taken to Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) where 15 of them, including the owner of the LPG station, Patience Sampene, are on admission in the intensive care unit.

The rest of them were treated at the Agogo Hospital, near Atonsu.

Dr. Joseph Otumi of KATH, said the injured, some of who suffered severe burns are responding to treatment.

The Ghana Fire Service is yet to find out the cause of the explosion and the cost of assets destroyed is yet to be estimated.

The Times has however learnt the cylinder was leaking when the driver of the track arrived at about 6 pm to offload the gas.

It was believed that the leakage might have got into contact with either the heated engine of the truck or fire particles from yam sellers close to the station.

Residents of about six houses opposite the gas station told the Times that the powerful blast shook their buildings resulting in cracks. ?I thought the world had come to an end so I dived under my bed,? a resident said.