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| Ghana fuel tanker in deadly blast | Ghana fuel tanker in deadly blast |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| At least 21 people have been killed in Ghana as a truck carrying fuel exploded near the town of Techiman. | At least 21 people have been killed in Ghana as a truck carrying fuel exploded near the town of Techiman. |
| The explosion happened when people were trying to scoop up fuel that had spilt around the broken down vehicle. | The explosion happened when people were trying to scoop up fuel that had spilt around the broken down vehicle. |
| A local official said the dead bodies were burnt beyond recognition and at least 50 people have gone to hospital. | A local official said the dead bodies were burnt beyond recognition and at least 50 people have gone to hospital. |
| The BBC's Will Ross says such incidents are frequent in West Africa where poverty tempts many to take free fuel at accident sites despite the risks. | The BBC's Will Ross says such incidents are frequent in West Africa where poverty tempts many to take free fuel at accident sites despite the risks. |
| Severe burns | Severe burns |
| Our reporter says the fuel truck had broken down near Techiman in Ghana's Brong-Ahafo region - more than 290km north-west of the capital, Accra. | Our reporter says the fuel truck had broken down near Techiman in Ghana's Brong-Ahafo region - more than 290km north-west of the capital, Accra. |
| Many people carrying small containers rushed to the vehicle hoping to scoop some free petrol, he says. | Many people carrying small containers rushed to the vehicle hoping to scoop some free petrol, he says. |
| The truck then exploded engulfing the crowd. | The truck then exploded engulfing the crowd. |
| Those taken to hospital have severe burns all over their bodies, a local official said from the scene of the explosion. | Those taken to hospital have severe burns all over their bodies, a local official said from the scene of the explosion. |
| One eyewitness said a soldier had stepped out of his car and was trying to disperse the people but he too was then caught up in the explosion. | One eyewitness said a soldier had stepped out of his car and was trying to disperse the people but he too was then caught up in the explosion. |
| A similar incident happened in northern Cameroon in August and last year 98 people died as they tried to scoop up fuel from a broken down tanker in Nigeria's Kaduna State. | A similar incident happened in northern Cameroon in August and last year 98 people died as they tried to scoop up fuel from a broken down tanker in Nigeria's Kaduna State. |