A devastating explosion at Odumase, near Konongo in the Ashanti Region, has left a trail of destruction, with three civilians confirmed dead and several others injured, including firefighters who were attacked while responding to the emergency.
The explosion, which occurred on March 5, 2024, at approximately 7:03 PM, originated from a shop dealing in explosives and other materials used in illegal mining. It quickly spread, engulfing 30 houses and eight shops. The fire was just 60 meters away from a gas station, heightening fears of a secondary disaster.
Firefighters from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) arrived at 7:13 PM but were met with chaos. As they attempted to contain the inferno, an explosion from one of the affected shops sent shockwaves through the area, injuring five crew members. Their fire tender was also damaged, rendering it useless.The pump operator collapsed, further crippling efforts to fight the fire.
Before they could regroup, enraged civilians began pelting the firefighters with stones, forcing them to withdraw. A backup crew from Ejisu was deployed but could not proceed due to the escalating hostility at the scene.
The attack on emergency responders has sparked outrage within the GNFS. A spokesperson for the service expressed deep disappointment, warning that continued assaults on firefighters could compromise their ability to save lives in future incidents.
“We are cautioning Ghanaians to stop attacking fire officers when they are deployed to scenes to put out fires. It is very unfortunate that these attacks are coming from the Ashanti Region. Opinion leaders should make concerted efforts to encourage their people to stop attacking us. If they do not stop, they will have to find ways to put out fires themselves,” he stated.
The five injured firefighters were treated and discharged from the Asante Akim Central Government Hospital. Meanwhile, an unknown number of civilians remain hospitalized, some with severe injuries, including dismemberment.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but authorities are also looking into the presence of explosives in the affected shops.
