Essikado premix fuel explosion: 15-year-old victim dies

A fifteen-year-old boy who is among some sixteen persons injured in a premix fuel explosion at Ngyiresia, a community in the Sekondi Takoradi metropolis of the Western Region has died on May 19.

The deceased is among 13 victims who were sent to the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital. The other three are at the Saint Benedict Hospital, Inchaban.

According to the traditional leader of Ngyiresia, Nana Doko Agyeman III, the incident happened at about 4:00pm on Saturday, May 18, 2024 when some fishermen were transporting premix fuel in gallons to their canoes along the beach.

The blaze also affected two stationary vehicles; a Land Rover and an Opel Astra, as well as some wooden structures close by.

The chief explained that due to the unavailability of access route from the main road to the beach, the fisherfolk usually roll the barrels of fuel on the ground to the beach. It however exploded this time while being transported.

The hospital is tight-lipped but the assembly member of the Palm Lands Electoral Area, Gabriel Mensah who has been at the hospital since the victims were brought in says the victims include 11 males and 5 females including children.

Meanwhile four remain in a critical condition.

Meanwhile the NDC Parliamentary candidate for Essikado Ketan Constituency, Professor Dr. Grace Ayensu Dankwa has visited the victims at Effia-Nkwanta Hospital to assist with the surgeries and also donate some items to the hospital to aid their operations