Casualty figures in the Trinity Oil Gas station fire at Krofurom Tuesday morning have risen.
Twelve victims, including a security officer at the station, sustained various degrees of injuries from the inferno which started at about 7:40 a.m.
Nine of them have been admitted to the Old Tafo Government Hospital whilst three, with one in critical condition and a security officer, are currently on admission at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
Residents in nearby homes who first felt the pungent smell of the gas leakage took cover at safer havens to avoid being caught in the explosion.
It took fire officers almost an hour to douse the fire with support from residents of the community.
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Assistant Fire Officer, Joshua Nguah, would not give details of people alleged to be missing.
But residents suspect work being done on some pumps at the station caused the fire.
Earlier this year, authorities assured residents that the Trinity Oil gas station would be dealt with after NADMO recommended their closure.
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Ashanti Regional NADMO Coordinator, Kwabena Nsenkyire was at the scene shortly after the fire and said his office has advised the KMA to demolish the gas filling station.
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“I wrote to the assembly that this place is not appropriate for a gas filling station and I was waiting for a response. Look at the opposite side, I came here purposely to earmark that place that they should demolish all these places. The bottom lies on the assemblies. They have been empowered to do demolition so the bottom lies on them [sic], ” he told Nana Yaw Gyimah Mensah.
City Mayor, Osei Assibey Antwi, also visited the scene and described the aftermath as a “very sad scene looking at the devastation that has taken place as a result of the fire.”
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According to him, he was waiting for briefing from NADMO, Fire Service and the Environmental Protection Agency.