A devastating dynamite blast occurred on the Kasoa-Winneba road during construction work on Monday, October 14, 2024, claiming three lives and leaving dozens injured.

The explosion, which happened in Buduburam around noon, was unexpected and caused widespread destruction, affecting nearby homes and pedestrians.

In an interview on Morning Starr with Naa DedeI Tettey, Mathias Anyegre, the Administrator of St. Gregory Hospital, shared details about the hospital’s response to the incident.

He confirmed that 47 victims were brought to the facility, of which three were pronounced dead on arrival. “We received 47 people; unfortunately, three of them passed away,” Anyegre stated.

Four critically injured individuals were referred to other medical facilities, two with severe head injuries and two suffering fractures.

The remaining 40 individuals were treated at St. Gregory Hospital for various injuries, including head trauma, leg fractures, chest pains, and back injuries. Many of them have since been discharged or are responding well to treatment.

The hospital, located just a two-minute walk from the explosion site, was quickly overwhelmed with patients and concerned relatives.

“Initially, the place was heavily packed because everyone wanted answers,” Anyegre recounted.

He praised the police and fire service for restoring order at the scene and the hospital, which had never experienced an incident of this magnitude.

The explosion occurred in the middle of a busy afternoon, a time when most people were engaged in their daily activities.

Eyewitnesses confirmed that controlled explosions are typically conducted in the evening, but this time, the magnitude and timing of the blast caught everyone off guard. “It was around noon, and people were busy going about their business.

The explosion’s force was so intense that it damaged houses far from the site,” said Anyegre.

St. Gregory Hospital is currently covering the medical expenses of the victims. “We are expensing everything from our stocks for now,” Anyegre explained, adding that the hospital will compile the costs and expects compensation from the authorities responsible for the construction work.

As investigations continue, traffic on the Kasoa-Winneba road has resumed, but questions remain about the safety protocols surrounding the use of explosives during ongoing roadworks.