Five (5) people have been reported dead with several others still missing following an explosion at a quarry site in Anto-Aboso within the Shama District of the Western Region. Officials of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) have reported that 22 individuals were present at the site when the explosion occurred, resulting in a mix of injuries and fatalities.
Among the casualties were four Ghanaians and a Chinese national. Also, some five injured persons are currently receiving medical treatment, while ten managed to escape unharmed. Regrettably, the fate of the remaining individuals remains uncertain.
According to eyewitnesses, the explosion occurred around 11 p.m. on Saturday, September 9 at the Omni Quarry site.
The cause of the explosion is yet to be established but bodies of some workers who were at the site have been found scattered around.
In an earlier interview, Emmanuel Nyan, the Shama District Officer of NADMO, said, “Four persons have been found dead. They are at the mortuary at the moment. Three blacks and one white lady. The other four Chinese cannot be found. We are trying to get an excavator to find out if many have been trapped.”
In response to the disaster, emergency services including the Fire Service and NADMO, alongside various security agencies, have mobilized to provide rescue and assistance at the site.
According to news reports, the workers kept some explosives they use in their line of work near where they sleep which may have exploded on their blind side killing and maiming others.
A preliminary investigation has found that the owner of the quarry was part of those who were reported dead.
Authorities say the company was given a license to mine but not for keeping explosives.
This tragic event follows a similar explosion that occurred in the same region at Appiate on January 20, 2022.
The Appiate explosion, triggered by a truck carrying explosives owned by Maxam Limited, resulted in a devastating loss of life and extensive damage to the community. Fourteen individuals lost their lives, and numerous others sustained various degrees of injuries.
In the aftermath of the Appiate disaster, a committee was established to investigate the incident, subsequently presenting its findings to the government. The government imposed a fine of $6 million on Maxam Limited, the company responsible for transporting the explosives through its subcontractors.
