Michel camp armoury explosions send shrapnel into homes

Residents in and around the Base Ammunition Depot (BAD) , Michel Camp, Tema were Wednesday dawn thrown into a state of panic after a series of explosions rocked the army facility.

The explosions which was triggered by a fire at the military installation at about 12 midnight sent plumes of smoke into the air amid thunderous noise.

Residents of Gbestile, Kakasunanka, Afienya were seen fleeing their homes in the dead of the night.

One Alimatu Sadia told Graphic Online that at about 12 midnight while she was about retiring to bed, she heard a loud noise.

She said she initially thought it was a ladder in her house which had fallen.

She said she stepped out only to hear more explosions accompanied by a plume of smoke in the air.

Another resident who gave his name as Nicholas said he was with his family  in their room when they heard the huge blast.

He said they came out and were told by the military to move to a safer place.

"They asked us to move towards the motorway" he said.

Meanwhile, the military personnel at Michel Camp have been able to contain the fire.

Though officials are not certain what might have triggered the fire, preliminary checks suggests the fire may have started in the small arms zone of the depot.

No casualties have so far been reported.