{{Short description|Fatal petrol station fire and explosion in Ghana}} {{Use Ghanaian English|date=May 2023}} {{Infobox news event |title = 2015 Accra explosion |image_name = {{Location map | Ghana | width = 250 | alt = The capital city Accra in Ghana. | label = Accra | position = right | mark = Green pog.svg <!--green dot--> |lat_deg=5 |lat_min=34 |lat_dir=N |lon_deg=0 |lon_min=12 |lon_dir=W }} |image_size = |caption = |date = 3 June 2015 |time = |place = Accra, Ghana |coordinates = {{Coord|5|34|4.8|N|0|12|55.4|W|type:event_region:IN|display=inline,title}} |cause = Fuel fire, explosion, flooding |fatalities = 256<ref>{{cite web |url=http://vibeghana.com/2015/06/04/update-over-250-dead-in-accra-filling-station-explosion/ |title=Update: over 250 dead in Accra filling station explosion |work=VibeGhana.com |date=4 June 2015}}</ref> |reported injuries = |reported property damage = }}
thumb | right | alt=Goil gas station in Ghana. | Goil gas station in Ghana. On June 3, 2015, an explosion and a fire occurred at a petrol station in Ghana's capital city Accra, killing over 250 people.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/world/over-200-killed-in-ghana-gas-station-explosion_1607811.html|title=Over 200 killed in Ghana gas station explosion|publisher=Zee News|access-date=8 June 2015}}</ref><ref name="bbc">{{cite news | url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-33003673 | title = Ghana petrol station inferno kills at least 150 in Accra | work = BBC | date = 4 June 2015 | access-date = 4 June 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/06/scores-dead-blast-petrol-station-ghana-accra-150604071414860.html|title=78 killed in blast at petrol station in Ghana's Accra|work=Al Jazeera |date=4 June 2015|access-date=4 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ghana-blast-idUSKBN0OK0KA20150604|title=Blast at Ghana petrol station kills about 90 people|agency=Reuters|access-date=4 June 2015}}</ref>
==Explosion== The GOIL station, near Kwame Nkrumah Interchange<ref name="graph2">{{Cite news | url=http://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/44119-disaster-many-dead-in-fuel-station-fire.html |location=Accra, Ghana| title=UPDATE: Disaster! Many dead in fuel station fire | date=4 June 2015 | access-date=4 June 2015 | author=Baiocchi, Francisco|newspaper=Daily Graphic}}</ref> in the city's downtown area, was being used as a shelter from heavy rains and flooding from<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2015/06/05/africa/ghana-explosion-floods/index.html|title=Ghana gas station blast kills those fleeing flooding - CNN.com|author=Faith Karimi and Chris Lett|date=5 June 2015|work=CNN}}</ref> several days of flooding in the city, and was packed with people, cars and buses, waiting to leave to their various destinations when the explosion occurred. The source of the explosion is unknown though believed to have occurred in the station's fuel tanks. One survivor stated that the power had gone out before the explosion, but after the power was restored, they heard a "pop" and then the fire erupted.<ref name="bbc"/> About 96 people were taking shelter at the station before they were killed by the fire.<ref name="bbc"/>
Due to the flooding, water had mixed in with the fuel, and when the tanks exploded, the water exacerbated the spread of the fire to nearby buildings, killing additional citizens.<ref name="bbc"/> The ongoing rainfall and flooding made rescue efforts difficult.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/05/world/africa/ghana-accra-gas-station-explosion-flooding.html | title = Gas Station Explosion in Ghana’s Capital Kills Around 100 | first = Adam | last = Nossiter | newspaper = The New York Times | date = 5 June 2015 | access-date = 4 June 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-33003673 | title = Ghana petrol station inferno kills scores in Accra | work = BBC | date = 4 June 2015 | access-date = 4 June 2015 }}</ref> So many bodies were taken to the 37 Military Hospital, the largest specialist hospital in Ghana, that the morgue was overwhelmed.<ref name="dailyguide1">{{Cite news|url=http://www.dailyguideghana.com/accra-floods-more-than-100-feared-dead-after-explosion/ |location=Accra, Ghana|title=Accra floods: More than 100 feared dead after explosion |date=4 June 2015 |access-date=4 June 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707115044/http://www.dailyguideghana.com/accra-floods-more-than-100-feared-dead-after-explosion/ |archive-date=7 July 2015 |newspaper=Daily Guide}}</ref><ref name="indp">{{cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/accra-floods-more-than-70-people-reported-dead-after-petrol-station-fire-in-ghanas-capital-city-10296123.html | title=Accra floods: More than 70 people reported dead after petrol station fire in Ghana's capital city | publisher=The Independent | date=4 June 2015 | access-date=4 June 2015 | author=O'Connor, Roisin | archive-date=4 June 2015 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20150604163343/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/accra-floods-more-than-70-people-reported-dead-after-petrol-station-fire-in-ghanas-capital-city-10296123.html | url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Reactions== Ghana's president John Dramani Mahama visited the site, and called for three days of mourning over the losses starting on 8 June 2015. He also authorized a GH₵ 60 million ($14.5 million) recovery fund.<ref name="bbc" /><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.myjoyonline.com/news/2015/June-4th/floods-mahama-declares-3-days-of-mourning.php | title=Floods: Mahama declares 3 days of mourning | publisher=Myjoyonline.com | date=4 June 2015 | access-date=6 June 2015 | author=Gadugah, Nathan | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235229/http://www.myjoyonline.com/news/2015/June-4th/floods-mahama-declares-3-days-of-mourning.php | archive-date=3 March 2016 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://gbcghana.com/1.4252722 | title=President Mahama Announces 3-days of National Mourning & 60 Million GH. Cedis to Support Flood Victims | publisher=gbcghana.com | date=4 June 2015 | access-date=6 June 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150606203950/http://gbcghana.com/1.4252722 | archive-date=2015-06-06 | url-status=dead }}</ref> President Mahama stated that he would start to push for legislation to prevent building on waterways in order to prevent such accidents from happening again.<ref name="bbc" /> The incident was the worst disaster for the country since the 2001 Accra Sports Stadium disaster, where 127 people were crushed in a stampede during a football match at Accra Sports Stadium.<ref name="bbc" />
The Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Cardinal Parolin, in the name of Pope Francis, sent a telegram of condolence for the victims of the explosion to the Right Reverend Joseph Osei-Bonsu, President of the Ghana Bishops' Conference.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2015/06/05/0432/00955.html|title=Il cordoglio del Santo Padre per il devastante incidente in una stazione di servizio ad Accra (Ghana)|work=vatican.va}}</ref>
==See also== *2017 Atomic Junction gas explosion *2022 Bogoso explosion
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
Accra explosion Category:Explosions in Ghana Accra explosion Category:21st century in Accra Category:2015 disasters in Africa