Four people have died while several others sustained injuries following a devastating dynamite explosion at Aboso in the Prestea Huni Valley Municipality of the Western Region, after an alleged attempt to kill a snake reportedly triggered the deadly blast.
The incident occurred at Breman, where an eyewitness said a gunshot fired at a snake accidentally struck explosives that had allegedly been stored near a fuel station, causing a powerful explosion that sent shockwaves through the surrounding community.
According to the eyewitness, the magnitude of the blast initially caused residents to believe that an earthquake had occurred because of the intensity of the sound and the resulting disturbance.
“We heard a loud sound, which many of us thought was an earthquake. We later found out that a man who is known to be dealing in explosives had gone to hide some of these explosives around a gas station in Breman,” the eyewitness recounted.
The witness explained that some individuals believed to be workers connected to the owner of the explosives were operating close to the area when they encountered the snake and attempted to eliminate it using a firearm.
He indicated that the gunshot intended to strike the snake instead hit the concealed explosives, triggering the massive detonation that claimed lives and left several people injured.
“He fired the gun aimed at the snake, but it ended up hitting the explosives that were hidden and ended up exploding, killing many of the people who were around,” the eyewitness stated.
The explosion created widespread fear and confusion among residents, with many rushing from their homes and nearby locations as emergency personnel moved to the scene to provide assistance, assess the extent of the damage and support affected victims.
Authorities are expected to commence investigations into the circumstances surrounding the storage of the explosives and determine the individuals responsible for keeping the materials in an area close to a populated community.
The incident has raised renewed concerns about the handling, transportation and storage of explosives within mining communities in the Western Region, where such materials are frequently used for mining related activities.
