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| Ghana petrol station inferno kills at least 150 in Accra | Ghana petrol station inferno kills at least 150 in Accra |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| At least 150 people have died in a fire at a petrol station in Ghana's capital, Accra, the country's president says. | At least 150 people have died in a fire at a petrol station in Ghana's capital, Accra, the country's president says. |
| The fire on Wednesday night started as people in the city were trying to cope with two days of heavy rain, which has left many homeless and without power. | The fire on Wednesday night started as people in the city were trying to cope with two days of heavy rain, which has left many homeless and without power. |
| The flooding hampered rescue efforts and may have led to the fire, the BBC's Sammy Darko reports from Accra. | The flooding hampered rescue efforts and may have led to the fire, the BBC's Sammy Darko reports from Accra. |
| President John Dramani Mahama has announced three days of national mourning to begin on Monday. | President John Dramani Mahama has announced three days of national mourning to begin on Monday. |
| It is thought that people were in the petrol station sheltering from the downpours when the fire broke out, our correspondent says. | It is thought that people were in the petrol station sheltering from the downpours when the fire broke out, our correspondent says. |
| President Mahama visited the burnt-out petrol station and described the deaths as "catastrophic" and "almost unprecedented". | President Mahama visited the burnt-out petrol station and described the deaths as "catastrophic" and "almost unprecedented". |
| He vowed to take tough measures to stop people building on waterways, which appeared to have been a factor in the disaster. | He vowed to take tough measures to stop people building on waterways, which appeared to have been a factor in the disaster. |
| "I think that the time has come for us to remove houses out of water and the public should understand that it is necessary to save everybody else," he said. | "I think that the time has come for us to remove houses out of water and the public should understand that it is necessary to save everybody else," he said. |
| Following an emergency meeting of cabinet and security chiefs on how to tackle flooding, the government says it will release £9m ($14m) to help flood victims. | Following an emergency meeting of cabinet and security chiefs on how to tackle flooding, the government says it will release £9m ($14m) to help flood victims. |
| Schools were closed across the capital and children asked to stay at home. | Schools were closed across the capital and children asked to stay at home. |
| Bus conductor Yaw Aforve was sleeping in his vehicle which was parked at the petrol station when the fire started. | Bus conductor Yaw Aforve was sleeping in his vehicle which was parked at the petrol station when the fire started. |
| He said he jumped into the floodwaters and when he came up for air, the fire burnt his face. | He said he jumped into the floodwaters and when he came up for air, the fire burnt his face. |
| "I was swept away by the water to the other side [of the road]," he added. "I saw so many people screaming and shouting." | "I was swept away by the water to the other side [of the road]," he added. "I saw so many people screaming and shouting." |
| The flooding helped cause the fire, the Ghana fire service said. | The flooding helped cause the fire, the Ghana fire service said. |
| The waters "caused the diesel and petrol to flow away from the gas station, and fire from a nearby house led to the explosion", spokesman Billy Anaglate said, the Associated Press news agency reports. | The waters "caused the diesel and petrol to flow away from the gas station, and fire from a nearby house led to the explosion", spokesman Billy Anaglate said, the Associated Press news agency reports. |
| On the scene - Sammy Darko, BBC Africa, Accra | On the scene - Sammy Darko, BBC Africa, Accra |
| Two days of heavy rain has brought much of the city to its knees. | Two days of heavy rain has brought much of the city to its knees. |
| There are chaotic scenes with cars being carried away by the water and many roads blocked off. | There are chaotic scenes with cars being carried away by the water and many roads blocked off. |
| Hundreds have been trapped in their offices and some have been forced to spend the night in their cars as traffic came to a standstill. | Hundreds have been trapped in their offices and some have been forced to spend the night in their cars as traffic came to a standstill. |
| Parts of Accra have been left without power as electricity sub-stations have been damaged in the flooding, which is making the ongoing energy shortages even worse. | Parts of Accra have been left without power as electricity sub-stations have been damaged in the flooding, which is making the ongoing energy shortages even worse. |
| Many homes have been flooded and people have been wandering around in their nightclothes after being forced to leave their beds. | Many homes have been flooded and people have been wandering around in their nightclothes after being forced to leave their beds. |
| One man told a local radio station that he had put his children on top of a wardrobe to save them from the water coming into his house. | One man told a local radio station that he had put his children on top of a wardrobe to save them from the water coming into his house. |
| Weather forecasters are saying that more rain is on its way. | Weather forecasters are saying that more rain is on its way. |