A devastating Aboso dynamite explosion has claimed the lives of four people and left several others seriously injured following an incident in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality of the Western Region.
According to the Assembly Member for the Akutuase Electoral Area, Emmanuel Eshun, the explosion occurred on Tuesday afternoon after residents encountered a large snake that had reportedly been terrorising the community for some time.
Speaking to 3news, Mr. Eshun said the first person who spotted the snake alerted a nearby shop owner before firing a warning shot in an attempt to drive the reptile away.
The situation, however, took a tragic turn when a security officer at the shop reportedly fired directly at the snake. The bullet is said to have struck a stockpile of dynamite slabs being sold nearby, triggering a powerful explosion.
The Assembly Member said three people, including the shop owner, Kofi Fletcher, died instantly at the scene. A fourth victim, who sustained critical injuries, later died while being rushed to a nearby health facility.
Several other people were also injured in the blast and are currently receiving treatment at various health facilities. Authorities are yet to release the identities of all the victims.
The Aboso dynamite explosion has raised serious concerns about the storage and sale of explosive materials in residential communities.
Police and other relevant authorities are expected to launch a full investigation into the incident, with particular attention on the reported illegal sale of explosives in the area.
The incident has also renewed calls for stricter enforcement of safety regulations governing the handling and sale of explosive materials to prevent similar tragedies.
By : Rachael Djabakie