Seven people were killed and 31 others injured in a deadly accident involving a VIP bus and a fuel tanker near Obretema, close to Suhum in Ghana’s Eastern Region, on the morning of Saturday, September 21, 2024.
The collision occurred at 4:38 a.m. when the fuel tanker, registered GE-9644-21, suffered a tyre burst, veered into the opposite lane, and collided head-on with a VIP bus, registered GR-7632-24.
The impact caused both vehicles to overturn, trapping passengers in the wreckage.
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), led by ADO I Akonnor Opare Ohene Daniel of the Suhum Fire Service, arrived at the scene at 4:53 a.m. with support from the Kyebi Fire Station.
Rescuers found several passengers trapped, and disturbingly, bystanders attempting to siphon fuel from the overturned tanker.
The incident claimed the lives of both drivers, along with five other passengers, comprising five men and two women.
The 31 injured survivors, including 14 men and 17 women, were swiftly transported to Suhum Government Hospital for treatment.
Authorities have warned the public of the risks associated with fuel siphoning at accident scenes, which can result in further disaster.
The GNFS has since launched an investigation into the cause of the accident, while urging road users to exercise greater caution, especially with the potential dangers of handling fuel in such situations.
