The Public Relations Officer of the Ashanti Regional GNFS, DOIII Atta Aheng Mensah has disclosed that emergency crews responded swiftly to a devastating fuel tanker explosion at Adubinsu following a suspected brake failure. He reported that the early morning incident triggered a massive fire that engulfed containers, claimed lives and caused widespread destruction along the N1 highway corridor.

DOIII Mensah explained that the control room received a distress call at about 4:10 am indicating an outbreak of fire at the scene. He noted that fire crews were immediately dispatched to contain the situation and prevent further escalation.

Upon arrival, the Public Relations Officer stated that firefighters encountered intense flames that consumed several structures. He added that the team quickly adopted a containment strategy to stop the fire from spreading to nearby properties.

The Public Relations Officer further indicated that the scale of destruction became evident during operations at the scene. He reported that about eight container shops were completely gutted by the blaze before firefighters gained control.

While operations continued, DOIII Mensah disclosed that responders discovered a charred body among the wreckage. He explained that the victim was burned beyond recognition and initial information suggested involvement of occupants of a KIA Rhino vehicle. He also revealed that another casualty was transported to the Police Hospital morgue.

“We had to ensure that the fire would not spread beyond its bounds and protect surrounding structures while operations were ongoing.”
DOIII Atta Aheng Mensah

Eyewitness accounts suggested that the tanker was moving towards Adubinsu when it allegedly experienced brake failure. The vehicle reportedly somersaulted before bursting into flames, intensifying the destruction along its path.

Emergency Response, Casualties And Public Assistance For Fire Aftermath

The Ghana National Fire Service provided further details on the response and aftermath of the Adubinsu fuel tanker explosion, outlining how emergency teams managed the scene and assisted affected persons.

According to the Public Relations Officer of the Ashanti Regional Command, DOIII Atta Aheng Mensah, fire crews encountered a heavy public presence upon arrival at the accident scene. He noted that some residents were already assisting victims before emergency teams took over operations.

He explained that Good Samaritans supported the injured with water and helped calm distressed individuals before firefighters secured the area. Emergency responders then established safety protocols to prevent further harm during the operation.

DOIII Mensah stated that initial information indicated two fatalities linked to the incident, although final confirmation is subject to medical verification. He further indicated that emergency teams conducted thorough sweeps of the area to ensure no additional victims were trapped beneath debris. According to him, no further injuries were recorded beyond the confirmed cases under review.

Fire officers ensured strict coordination due to the incident occurring along a busy highway stretch, which complicated access and movement during the response phase. Despite these challenges, the fire was successfully contained without additional casualties.

He also confirmed that investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the explosion and verify all casualty details. Besides further updates will be communicated once medical and technical assessments are completed.