The death toll in the premix fuel tanker explosion that occurred on Friday morning at Bawire and Akyinim, a twin-fishing community near Axim in the Nzema East District in the Western Region, has risen to seven.
Four persons died on the spot when their bodies were charred beyond recognition whiles 29 others sustained various degrees of burns after an explosion at a premix fuel dump. One of the four bodies was found at the scene of the explosion later after the fire had been quenched by the Fire Service.
The bodies of the victims are yet to be identified as the fisherfolks came from different locations along the beach.
Most of the injured, including two female food vendors, were rushed to the Axim Government Hospital, while others were referred to the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital for further medical care.
Seven of the victims who were referred to the Effia Nkwanta Hospital had to be air lifted to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in view of the critical nature of their burns.
Unfortunately, three more persons died at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital on Friday evening after doctors at the hospital tried effortlessly to save them.
The incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. after a power outage during the sale of the fuel.
The fuel dump attendants were said to have turned to a generator to power the pump to serve the anxious fishermen.
According to an eyewitness, the power generator caught fire and in an attempt to put it out it rather spread to the fully loaded fuel reservoir, causing it to explode.
Aithough Fire Service personnel and the police arrived at the scene on time, the intensity of the flames caused havoc before they could act.
A joint Fire Service and police team has launched an investigation into the incident.
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