3 confirmed dead in Buduburam rock blasting incident; 39 injured

A stone blasting incident at Gomoa Buduburam by the contractor working on the Kasoa to Winneba highway has resulted in the death of three people with injuries to 39 others.

Those affected are said to be commuters and residents in the area.

The three deceased persons, one male and two females were struck on the head by debris from the blast.

They died on the spot.

Thirty-nine others who sustained injuries have been sent to the hospital.

Four of them were referred to the 37 Military Hospital in Accra because of the nature of their injuries, a doctor from the St Gregory Hospital at Buduburam told Graphic Online. 

Buduburam: Rock blasting by construction company causes havoc https://t.co/sizAIgpW39 pic.twitter.com/sQtJHZZ8U1

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The incident happened Monday afternoon.

Some eyewitnesses said the debris from the blast flew to nearby homes and injured people.

Read also: Stone blasting incident that killed 3 and injured 39 was accidental - Ministry

Photos and videos shared from the scene of the incident shows many injured persons and destruction of property.

Buduburam: Rock blasting by construction company causes havoc https://t.co/sizAIgpW39 pic.twitter.com/PSMhbOA99s

— DailyGraphic GraphicOnline (@Graphicgh) October 14, 2024

Buduburam: Rock blasting by construction company causes havoc https://t.co/sizAIgpW39 pic.twitter.com/5UE2zGIgrd

— DailyGraphic GraphicOnline (@Graphicgh) October 14, 2024

Graphic Online's Emmanuel Bonney reported that the incident happened around the Big Apple area of Gomoa Buduburam in the Gomoa East District of the Central Region at about 3:30 pm.

Some residents told our reporter that the blasting was done by the construction firm in charge of the dualisation of the Kasoa to Winneba road.

The blasting exercise, they said was to clear the huge rocks that were underground.

However, they said instead of the blasting taking place at about 5 p.m. as usual, it was done earlier around 3:30 p.m.

"The blast I am told was supposed to go off at around 5pm. Unfortunately, it blasted around 3.30 p.m, so the people were not aware that it was blasting time," Kpakpo, one of the residents told Graphic Online.

He said the victims lived around the area and that they were hit by flying stones.

Kpakpo said particles went into peoples homes.

"Maybe the person who set the dynamite got the timing wrong hence the tragedy," he said.

The injured and diseased were sent to the St Gregory Hospital at Buduburam.