A raging ball of fire and a thick billowing smoke are what remain of a fuel tanker after it exploded Tuesday morning close to a local eatery at Potsin Junction on the Kasoa-Winneba road in the Central region.
Adom FM correspondent Seth Kofi Adjei reports that the intensity of the fire makes it impossible to venture close to the scene, while fire tenders in nearby fire stations are reported to be out of service.
It is unclear if the eatery was occupied at the time of the incident, but the fire has consumed it and two other buildings.
The dawn incident occurred at about 5:30 a.m. today, March 17, 2026, with no fatalities recorded.
The driver of the tanker is said to have escaped before the explosion.
Personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service have been deployed to the scene to douse the flames, with official details yet to be provided.
The tanker was reportedly travelling from Accra towards the Central Region.
Information suggests that it hit a section of the road under construction, lost control and overturned, leading to the explosion.
An eyewitness recounted the efforts of local youth to manage the situation before fire officers arrived.
“I organised the boys to stop vehicles coming from Accra towards Winneba,” he said. “After that, we called the fire service. We contacted the Buduburam Fire Service, but they told us their tanker was faulty. They then tried to reach out to other stations for support.”
According to him, a similar response came from Winneba.
“They also said their tanker was damaged, so they contacted Apam. Apam was the first to arrive before officers from Kasoa eventually came,” he explained. “By now, the fire is down, although a lot has been destroyed.”
He expressed concern over the lack of readiness, stating, “These situations are emergencies, so when we report and are told there is no equipment, it is very worrying.”
Another resident described how the incident unfolded.
“Around 5 p.m., I was in my chop bar when an articulated truck passed by and suddenly fell. At first, I thought nothing serious had happened, so I went back inside. But shortly after, there was a fire and then an explosion.”
The resident added that the impact has been devastating. “Everything has been burnt. The house we sleep in is affected; our food, soup, and everything is gone. We are pleading with NADMO to come to our aid.”
A third eyewitness explained the possible cause of the accident. “At about 5:30 p.m., the articulated truck was trying to park on the other side of the road. Because of the road conditions, it did not get a proper balance, so the tanker shifted and overturned.”
He continued: “The driver and his mate quickly got out and started running. Shortly after, the tanker exploded. We had to rush and knock on doors to alert people in nearby houses to run for safety.”
He added that the damage could have been worse without the intervention of local residents.
“It has destroyed properties and burnt houses, a chop bar and other structures. At the time, the fire service had not yet arrived, so the youth used sand and water to slow the fire. If not, even the cold store would have been burnt.”
Residents are now calling for urgent assistance and improved emergency response to prevent similar situations in the future.
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