Firefighters attacked while responding to Adubinsu tanker explosion

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has condemned the hostile treatment its personnel faced while responding to a deadly fuel tanker explosion at Adubinsu in the Afigya Kwabre South District of the Ashanti Region.

According to the Service, some residents attacked firefighters as they battled the blaze and carried out rescue operations, hampering efforts to bring the situation under control.

Speaking on Accra-based Channel One Newsroom, the Ashanti Regional Public Relations Officer of the GNFS, DOII Atta Aheng Mensah, said firefighters were pelted with stones and sachet water by sections of the crowd.

He described the incident as unfortunate and urged the public to support emergency responders rather than obstruct their work during critical situations.

“When our men got to the scene, they were met with hostilities. We plead with civilians to desist from that. Such behaviour will not be tolerated. There was a lot of stone pelting and even sachet water throwing. It took the intervention of some of the elderly people there to calm the youth down for our men to work,” he said.

The explosion occurred in the early hours of Thursday, June 4, when a fuel tanker travelling from Edwenase towards Adubinsu reportedly lost control.

The tanker is said to have somersaulted before bursting into flames, triggering a massive fire that engulfed six container shops and a nearby house.

Two people were confirmed dead in the incident, while several properties were destroyed.

Despite the challenges encountered at the scene, firefighters eventually brought the blaze under control and prevented it from spreading to nearby structures.

The GNFS has renewed its appeal to the public to cooperate with emergency personnel during rescue and firefighting operations, stressing that attacks on responders not only endanger their lives but can also delay efforts to save lives and protect property.