Twelve personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) have sustained injuries following an explosion involving a fuel tanker at Gomoa Potsin in the Central Region.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, March 17, 2026, after firefighters had successfully contained a blaze involving the tanker along the Winneba–Accra Highway.
According to a statement issued by the GNFS, the Central Regional Fire Control Room received a distress call at about 5:58 a.m., reporting a fire outbreak involving a fuel tanker with registration number GT 5671-22. The tanker was said to be transporting approximately 54,000 litres of petrol at the time of the incident. The driver and his mate escaped unhurt.
Fire crews from the Apam and Kasoa Fire Stations, with support from a private water tanker, arrived at the scene at 6:26 a.m. Upon arrival, they encountered an intense fire that was already spreading to nearby properties. The firefighters managed to bring the situation under control at 7:58 a.m., before completely extinguishing the flames by 8:42 a.m.
However, during cooling operations to prevent a possible re-ignition, the tanker suddenly reignited and exploded, resulting in injuries to 12 firefighters.
Four of the injured personnel suffered severe burns and were rushed to the Winneba Trauma and Specialist Hospital and the Potsin Polyclinic for treatment. They have since been treated and discharged. The remaining eight sustained minor injuries and were treated on-site by a responding Ambulance Service team.
Senior officers, including the Central Regional Fire Commander, ACFO I Merinder Mary Attigah Mensah, and the Director of Operations, DCFO Roberta Aggrey Ghanson, later visited both the injured firefighters and the scene of the incident.
Firefighters have remained at the location to ensure safety, as arrangements are underway to safely transfer the remaining fuel from the damaged tanker.
