At least 78 people have died in an explosion at a gas station in Ghana's capital, Accra, on Wednesday. Most of the people killed in the blast were seeking shelter from the heavy rainfall in the city, according to officials, reported the BBC.
"Many people took shelter under a shed at the station during a severe rain across the country and got trapped when the explosion happened," said Michael Plange, who lives in the neighborhood, according to the Associated Press.
The explosion was caused by a fire that started at a truck terminal located nearby at approximately 10 p.m., spreading to the gas station and neighboring buildings in Accra, Billy Anaglate, spokesman of the Ghana Fire Service, told local radio station JOYFM Radio, according to Reuters.
The incident took place amid growing concern over the severe weather conditions in the city with people trying to cope with two days of torrential rain, which has left thousands homeless and without electricity, further complicating rescue efforts.
TV channels aired graphic footage of the aftermath, showing bodies being piled up into the back of a pickup truck and other badly burnt corpses trapped beneath debris. The death toll from the accident is expected to rise as the search for bodies continues.
