Tanker explodes at Assin Fosu

A tanker carrying diesel went up in flames at Assin Fosu yesterday, destroying property worth thousands of cedis.

The tanker was said to have rammed into a truck that had unloaded cement into a warehouse in the market centre and was reversing.

No casualty, however, was recorded.

The fire, which occurred around 9 a.m., destroyed four houses, a bookshop, shoemaking shop and a cold store.

According to eye witnesses, residents around the area who had attempted to siphon diesel from the tanker narrowly escaped the explosion.

They said the cement truck had unloaded its cargo into a nearby store and was reversing to join the Cape Coast-Kumasi road, when the tanker hit it.

A trader who was at the scene, Madam Quarshie, said when the tanker driver realised what had happened, he contacted the Fire Service.

She said some people who went to the place started siphoning the diesel from the tanker but 15 or 20 minutes later, the tanker exploded.