The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) has contributed GHC10,000 to aid in covering the medical expenses of 16 individuals injured in a fire outbreak at Egyiresia near Sekondi.
The incident, which took place on Saturday, May 18, was ignited by leaks of premix fuel during offloading at the fish-smoking section of the fishing bay.
Mayor Abdul Mumin Issah of Sekondi-Takoradi reported that a barrel containing premix fuel was inadvertently rolled through the area, leaving behind fuel droplets that ignited upon contact with flames from smokers.
This resulted in a fire that affected two vehicles and caused injuries to 16 individuals.
Currently, the victims are undergoing treatment at the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital and Saint Benedict Hospital in Inchaban.
The mayor personally visited the hospitals and directed a deposit of GHC10,000 to alleviate the financial burdens of the victims.
Three of the victims were admitted to Saint Benedict Hospital with various injuries, while the remaining 14 were taken to Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital. Among the latter, two individuals are in critical condition and are undergoing surgery.
“On Saturday around 6 PM, I had a call from the police entity in Sekondi with respect to the fire outbreak which occurred at Egyiresia. Upon reaching there we realised a premix fuel had been brought to the township. Upon offloading it from the taxi, I think the tank had some leakage so the fishermen were rolling it to the beach so the fuel was gashing out, they got to a point where a woman was smoking fish and you know smoke and petrol cannot coexist, hence the fire outbreak.”
“It had leaked from the roadside to the point where it caught fire. There was a Range Rover there which got totally burnt and a taxi which also got burnt. So, we went to the Saint Benedict Hospital where three of the victims were admitted, they sustained various injuries.
“From there we went to Effia-Nkwanta where 14 of the victims were and two were critically injured so they’ve been sent to the theatre.”
“As part of the assembly to assist the financial difficulties of the people, I have directed that an amount of 10,000 cedis should be deposited.”