Another victim of the Sta Addsams Enterprise explosion, which occurred at Kobinaandohkrom, Anto Abosso, near Shama, in the Western Region, has died on Tuesday.
Emmanuel Tetteh, who hailed from Koforidua, in the Eastern Region, was a worker at Sta Addsams Enterprise.
This brings the number of death following the explosion to six, including two Chinese.
Public Relations Officer at the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital, Christian Baidoo, who confirmed Tetteh’s death, told Ghanaian Times that six out of eight victims admitted at the facility were discharged, while two others with injuries on their faces were in critical conditions.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Director of Public Health, Western Regional Health Directorate, Dr Gifty Amugi, appealed to residents of the nine affected communities to report any skin diseases and other health complications at the hospital.
She cautioned that “we believe this explosion came from a large ammonium based chemical, and when ammonium gets into contact with any part of your body, it is going to cause inflammation and itches.”
Giving the advice in an interview with journalists on Tuesday, after a Public Health Emergency Response meeting, Dr Amugi said
ammonium substance could cause itching in the eyes, pains in the throat, chest and irritations.
Dr Amugi assured that the Public Health Emergency Response Committee was working to make available information to avoid further exposure and harm to residents as a result of the explosion.
She advised companies to properly handle hazardous chemicals noting that “the region is highly industrialised and we need to learn a lot of lessons from the explosion.”
An explosion occurred at the Sta Addsams Enterprise, originally Q Omni, resulting in deaths and destruction to buildings and properties, on Saturday, September 9, 2023.
The explosion affected communities, including Anto Aboso, Assorku Essaman and Ohiamadwen communities, where quarry works took place daily.
Following the tragedy, the Western Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has set up a nine-member committee to investigate the circumstances leading to the explosion at Kobinandohkrom.
FROM CLEMENT ADZEI BOYE, TAKORADI
