Four people have been confirmed dead, with several others injured, following an explosion involving suspected explosives at Aboso in the Prestea Huni Valley Municipality of the Western Region.

The incident occurred on Tuesday, August 4. According to an eyewitness, the explosion may have been accidentally triggered when a gunshot fired at a snake struck explosives allegedly hidden near a fuel station at Breman.

The eyewitness said residents were startled by a loud blast, with many initially fearing it was an earthquake.

“We heard a loud sound, which many of us thought was an earthquake. We later found out that a man who is known to be dealing in explosives had gone to hide some of these explosives around a gas station in Breman,” the eyewitness told Accra-based Citi FM.

According to the eyewitness, some workers believed to be associated with the owner of the suspected explosives were working in the area when they spotted a snake and attempted to shoot it.

The eyewitness alleged that the bullet missed the snake and instead struck the concealed explosives, triggering the deadly explosion.

“He fired the gun aimed at the snake, but it ended up hitting the explosives that were hidden and ended up exploding, killing many of the people who were around,” the eyewitness recounted.

The blast claimed four lives, injured several others, and forced frightened residents to flee the area.

Emergency response teams were dispatched to the scene to rescue the injured, secure the area, and assess the extent of the damage.

Authorities have yet to officially confirm the circumstances surrounding the storage of the suspected explosives or the exact cause of the explosion. Investigations are underway to establish the facts and determine what led to the incident.