The quarry site
DAILY GUIDE has gathered that four persons were burnt beyond recognition following an explosion that occurred at a quarry site at Anto Aboso in the Shama District of the Western Region last Saturday evening.
It was gathered that several people were unaccounted for following the ammonia nitrate explosion at the quarry site operated by STA-ADSAMS Enterprise, also known as Omni Quarry owned by some Chinese nationals.
What caused the ammonia nitrate to explode has since not been established. Meanwhile, the charred bodies of some of the workers who were at the site have been retrieved.
The bodies, including that of Chinese nationals, could not be identified due to the dismembered nature.
Some of the residents who live around the quarry site indicated that the explosion, which occurred around 10pm, resulted in some cracks to their buildings and was followed by total blackout in communities such as Anto Aboso, Assorku and Esssaman among others.
“We were told there was a mishandling of explosive materials at the quarry site and that caused the disaster. As I speak, search missions are currently underway to retrieve the remaining bodies,” a resident disclosed.
Some of them also alleged that the explosives were being kept in an unstructured storage and detonated, killing some of the workers.
Mr. Emmanuel Owuewie, the Assembly member for Anto-Aboso in the Shama District, said he stayed around the site, and that he was in his room when his ceiling came crashing on him, adding “But I am safe”.
Meanwhile, officers from the Fire Service and other security personnel are currently at the site helping with rescue efforts.
It would be recalled that in January last year, a similar incident occurred at Appiatse in the Prestea Huni Valley Municipality of the region, which led to the death of about 14 people.
The Appiatse incident happened after a truck carrying explosives got involved in an accident, resulting in the explosion which destroyed the Appiatse community.
A committee was later inaugurated to probe the disaster. It subsequently presented its report to the government.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi