ACCRA, 22 January 2022, (TON): The government said “at least 17 people were killed and 59 injured Thursday in a devastating explosion in a western Ghana town after a truck carrying explosives collided with a motorcycle.”

The blast left a huge crater and reduced dozens of buildings to dust-covered piles of wood and metal in Apiate, near the city of Bogoso some 300 kilometres (180 miles) west of the mineral-rich West African country s capital Accra.

Footage showed locals rushing towards a raging fire and rising plumes of black smoke to inspect the damage, while rescue workers waded through the rubble for survivors caught in the devastation.

Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said in a statement released overnight “a total of 17 people have unfortunately been confirmed dead, and 59 injured people have been rescued.”

The minister said initial signs point to “an accident involving a truck transporting explosive materials for a mining company, a motorcycle and a third vehicle” which took place near an electrical transformer.

Nkrumah added “out of 59 people injured, 42 are receiving treatment in hospitals or health centres and “some are in critical condition.”