Togolese President in Accra to sympathize with flood and fire victims
Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe arrived in Accra Friday morning to sympathize with Ghanaians in connection with the fire and flood disasters that brought the capital city to its knees Wednesday night.
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Flooding, resulting from torrential rains brought Accra to its knees last Wednesday, with unimaginable loss of lives and destruction of properties.
Officials had confirmed a death toll of 150 as of close of day Thursday. The figure is expected to go up to about 200.
Seventy-six of the victims were killed at a GOIL fuel station at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle.
The station exploded in the midst of the rains, while many others who suffered serious burns were taken to major hospitals in the city.
The Togolese President and President John Mahama will tour the hardest hit areas on Friday, Graphiconline's Presidential Correspondent Kwame Asare Boadu reported.
President Mahama has declared three days of national mourning for the victims beginning Monday. The Ghana national flag will fly at half-mast during the mourning period.
The government has also announced a Ghc50 million relief package for the affected individuals.
Many of the victims of the filling station inferno were among others who had sought shelter at the GOIL Fuel Station near the GCB Towers at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle to escape the flood waters spreading out from the overflowing Odaw River and uncovered drains.
Badly burnt bodies were scattered at what remained of the fuel station as fire and rescue crews battled fruitlessly to save lives.
Many of the deceased had sought shelter at the filling station, when an accompanying lightning was said to have struck a house causing an explosion.