Tema, April 1, GNA - A gas attendant, who was rushed to the Tema General=

Hospital on Wednesday evening after sustaining various degrees of injurie= s from a gas inferno at Tema Manhean, is reported dead. Mr Alfred Otoo, 45, was a gas attendant at the Redeemer Gas Filling Stat= ion at Tema Manhean. Mr Timothy Osafo-Affum, Public Relations Officer of the Tema Regional Fi= re Service, told the Ghana News Agency some hours after Mr Otoo had passed a= way early Thursday morning.

Two others, who sustained various degrees of injury, are currently on admission at the Hospital, while a third surviving victim, who was said t= o be in a critical condition was receiving treatment at the Korle Bu Teachi= ng Hospital. The incident occurred at about 2111 hours when a gas tanker belonging to=

Virgin Petroleum exploded while discharging gas at the station. Properties worth several thousands of Ghana cedis were lost in the fire outbreak, which attracted scores of people to the scene. Mr Osafo-Affum stated that his outfit was informed about the incident at=

about 2130 hours. He said the fire personnel brought the fire under control at about 2330 hours as the entire place was engulfed in the flames. The Regional Fire PRO indicated that in all eight fire tankers were used= to fight the fire.

Personnel from the var ious national security agencies, including the Pol= ice Service and the Navy were also at the scene to ensure safety. Mr Osafo-Affum advised fuel tanker drivers to ensure that their engines cooled down switched off before they discharged fuel or gas since failure= to do so could lead to serious fire outbreaks and loss of lives.