Environmental scientist, Professor Christopher Gordon, has stated that the tragic June 3, 2015, disaster in Accra, which claimed over 150 lives, could have been avoided with proper planning and enforcement of safety measures.
The June 3 disaster, marked by deadly flooding and a fuel station explosion at Kwame Nkrumah Circle, remains one of Ghana’s gravest national tragedies. Torrential rains caused widespread flooding, during which leaking fuel from a GOIL station ignited, killing scores of people who had taken shelter at the site.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Point of View with Bernard Avle on Wednesday, June 4, Prof. Gordon described the incident as a national tragedy that was preventable.
“My personal recollection was that this was a tragedy. A tragedy that could have been avoided. When the number of people who had perished started to be reported. I found it so unbelievable, it was like the stadium disaster, in terms of its magnitude, again, something that could have been avoided.
“Death by fire or drowning is nothing to be wished for on anybody. But you remember that so many people were maimed,” he said.
Prof. Gordon attributed the catastrophe to a combination of poor urban discipline, the impact of climate change, and the lack of regulatory enforcement.
“I would say it was a combination of indiscipline and climate change, coupled with a lack of standards,” he asserted.
Key Facts About the June 3 Disaster:
The Fire:
The disaster was triggered when floodwaters caused a fuel leak at a GOIL fuel station near the Kwame Nkrumah Circle (also known as Circle).
People had taken shelter from the heavy rains at the station.
The leaked fuel ignited, reportedly due to a lit cigarette or electrical fault, causing a massive explosion and intense fire.
The fire engulfed the station and nearby buildings and vehicles, killing many instantly.
…..
Explore the world of impactful news with CitiNewsroom on WhatsApp!
Click on the link to join the Citi Newsroom channel for curated, meaningful stories tailored just for YOU:
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCYzPRAYlUPudDDe53x
No spam, just the stories that truly matter! #StayInformed #CitiNewsroom #CNRDigital
