Some Tema residents around Base Ammunition Depot at Michel Camp were evacuated from the area after a fire outbreak at the depot.
Soldiers ushered residents to safety after the community was put on alert when small explosions were heard coming from the armory at around 10:30pm on Tuesday.
[contextly_sidebar id=”pXisDsJrntBBcUN68MaGoMWNSPquRXTD”]According to sources, the fire was detected in the laboratory and the small arms zone of the depot.
“We were sleeping and we heard the explosion around 10: 30 pm to 11:00 pm. We rushed out and saw that it was the BAD [Base Ammunition Depot] which was burning and we saw that the soldiers were running out and telling us too that we should leave the area,” a resident recounted to Citi News.
Some residents were alert to the danger as soon as they started hearing the small explosions.
“Those of us who grew up here, we know that there are certain explosives. This is the Ghana armed Forces armory so we know it is likely there is a fire in the armory so we came out and we saw that really, there is a disaster looming,” another resident said.
Residents were seen standing in the open early on Wednesday morning and some even had to travel as far, as families had to walk towards Ashaiman and Afienya for safety.
Patients from the Crystal Hospital, located near the depot, were also evacuated from the area.
“Some of them we held their hands. Some of them we used the wheelchair to push them. They are safe now,” a nurse said to Citi News.
The fire was eventually contained around 2 am and no casualties have been recorded.
The blaze was prevented from spreading to the highly explosive zone of the depot where long-range ordinances are kept.
There has so far been no comment from officials.
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By: Elvis Washington | citinewsroom.com | Ghana