By Two individuals have tragically lost their lives, and five others are currently undergoing treatment at a hospital after an explosion occurred at Joyea Construction on Spintex, along the Accra-Tema motorway, on Friday afternoon.
Confirming the incident to Joy News, DOIII Ebenezer Yenzu, the Tema Regional Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, stated that they received a call about the incident around 2:20 pm.
“We received a distress call over a blast at Joyea Construction and had to respond immediately. We then dispatched the personnel at the fire station around Kasapreko to the scene”
“Joyea is into construction works, roofing sheets, trusses and other things. We have gathered that one of the oxyacetylene gas tanks used as part of metal fabrication ruptured. Oxyacetylene is obtained by combining acetylene gas and oxygen, and it is used for welding and cutting of metal,” he shared.
He clarified that the explosion did not result in any fire, but indicated that the fire team would investigate the exact cause of the explosion, considering various factors that could have contributed to the incident.
“A number of possibilities could lead to the oxyacetylene tank rupturing. It could be due to leakage from the tank, the nozzle, whether the concentration level was too high, positioning of the tank, exposure to heat and other factors. Our investigations will look at all these,” DOIII Yenzu noted.
He stressed that identifying the precise cause would be instrumental in preventing similar incidents in the future.
The primary focus of the Fire Service at the scene is to mitigate all potential hazards.
Regarding any information from the management of Joyea Construction, he mentioned that they would engage with management and workers once they confirm the site’s safety.
In addition to prioritizing safety post-explosion, the Fire Service is closely monitoring the condition of the five injured individuals.
Offering advice, DOIII Ebenezer Yenzu urged companies dealing with industrial materials of this nature to maintain constant vigilance over their facilities.
“You need to always check the temperature. Despite the accident happening in an open space, the proximity could be an issue. When dealing with welding equipment ensure they are a distance from where you’re doing your hot works”
“Periodically check your hoses, the gauge, and nozzle if there are any leakages and anything that matters to ensure safety for all,” he cautioned.
