Death toll up to 150 in Ghana gas station explosion, floods

Ghana’s president says the death toll from a gas station explosion in the capital and widespread flooding has increased to 150 people. John Dramani Mahama told journalists Thursday evening that the country would observe three days of mourning for the victims and that the government would allocate about $12 million for relief operations and to repair damaged infrastructure. Officials said the explosion occurred after flooding swept fuel from the gas station into a nearby fire. The blast took place as dozens of people sought shelter at the gas station from torrential rain.

It was an explosive fire and so the people sheltering at the filling station did not have an opportunity to escape.

Billy Anaglate, a spokesman for Ghana Fire Service

The deaths are likely to intensify criticism of the government’s failure to improve the country’s infrastructure. Though the downpours this week have been especially bad, heavy rains in June are not unusual — yet drainage systems in Accra remain inadequate.

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