According to the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), the massive explosion that happened yesterday Thursday, January 20, 2022, destroyed over 95 percent of the over 200 residences in Bogoso – Appiatse in the Western Region.
Louis Afful, the Deputy NADMO Director for Prestea – Huni Valley, revealed that the explosion occurred in two parts, one beneath and the other above ground, impacting residents.
Mr. Afful who made these revelations to an Accra-based Citi FM explained that “most of the houses in the area are on the left side of the road, unfortunately for us, the impact hit more of the left side. Almost 95% of the houses in the community are gone.”
“The opposite side of the road has a few structures, including a church building and a school. The impact of the explosion was so great that it threw off a transformer. The truck itself cannot be found,” he added.
He further explained that the majority of the homes in the area are constructed of mud. These houses were carried away first, as they are in the foreground. The blockhouses were at the back, and there were only four of them left, including a six-unit classroom block.
“In my estimation, about 95% out of the about 200 households were swept away.”
It has also emerged that the victims of the explosion have been distributed to hospitals outside of Bogoso due to the overburdened nature of the Bogoso health facilities.
As authorities mobilize rescue efforts, 17 people have been confirmed deceased, while 59 people have been injured in the catastrophic blast.
Dr. Joseph Darko, the Clinical Coordinator of Apinto Government Hospital, told media.0 that five wounded people hauled in by his facility are responding to therapy.
“There were varying degrees of injury. Of course, some people were dead. Others are injured and some of them had to be evacuated. The closest facility where the incident happened is a health centre where the level of care couldn’t support the injuries that occurred, so some of the injured had to be evacuated to hospitals in Tarkwa.”
“I think there is a private hospital in Bogoso where some of the injured people were sent to. We went in there and evacuated five people who needed to be evacuated to our facility, and they are all stable now”, he noted.
According to the government, 42 of the 59 injured people are receiving care, and several are in serious condition, according to a statement from the Information Ministry.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has formed a committee to investigate the catastrophic incident.
