Crew 'burnt alive' on Ghana ship

Around 80 firefighters were called to the scene

At least 15 people are feared dead after they were trapped on a burning ship in Ghana's main port of Tema.

Two survivors managed to jump to safety as the blaze broke out on the MV Polaris. The Greek-registered vessel was destroyed by the heat.

The flames have been put out but thick plumes of smoke wafted across the port after Friday's fire.

Police suspect the blaze began when a spark from welding work set fire to oil leaking from a pipe.

The boat was being repaired in Tema, just 18km from the capital, Accra, when the fire broke out.

"The vessel is totally lost, and all human beings on board are feared dead," Energy Minister Mike Ocquaye told reporters.

Pipelines hit

Ports Minister Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi said nine people were confirmed dead, including four whose bodies had been recovered, AFP news agency reports.

In addition to Ghanaians, there was also one Russian, one Greek and one Guinean on board, the BBC's Kwaku Sakyi-Addo reports from Accra.

Pipelines leading to Ghana's only oil refinery have been damaged but Mr Ameyaw-Akumfi says there are enough strategic supplies to avoid any short-term problems.

Ben Owusu-Mensah, director-general of the Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority, said the Tema oil refinery had shut down its pipeline but residual oil in it was still burning.

"The biggest blow is that the pumping room of the refinery has been completely destroyed by fire," he said.

Some 80 firefighters were involved in the operation to contain the blaze.

A supply belt leading to an aluminium smelter was also damaged.

The landlocked countries of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have switched much of their trade to Tema, since conflict broke out in Ivory Coast in September 2002.

Ghana exports coffee, cocoa and cotton through the port, reports Reuters news agency.