WR: Four killed in explosion near fuel station at Aboso
Several others were injured after an explosion at Aboso in the Western Region, with authorities investigating reports that improperly stored explosives were involved.
Four people have been killed and several others injured in an explosion near a fuel station in Aboso in Ghana's Western Region, officials say.
The blast happened on Tuesday in the Prestea Huni Valley Municipality, sending residents fleeing and prompting an emergency response.
The cause of the explosion has not been officially confirmed.
However, eyewitnesses told local media that the explosion may have been triggered after a gunshot struck explosives allegedly stored near the fuel station.
One resident said people initially mistook the blast for an earthquake because of its intensity.
"We heard a loud sound, which many of us thought was an earthquake," the eyewitness said.
The witness alleged that workers near the site had tried to shoot a snake, but the bullet instead hit explosives that had been hidden close to the fuel station, triggering the blast.
Emergency responders were dispatched to the scene to rescue the injured and secure the area.
Authorities have not confirmed how the explosives came to be stored near the fuel station or whether they were being kept there legally.
Investigations are under way to establish the cause of the explosion and the circumstances surrounding the incident.