Ghana fuel explosion kills many

An overturned fuel tanker in the Ghanaian town of Techiman has exploded, killing at least 22 people.

The explosion happened as people tried to scoop up fuel that had spilt around the vehicle.

The dead were burnt beyond recognition and at least 50 people are in hospital, a local official said.

Such incidents are frequent in West Africa where poverty tempts many risk salvaging fuel from accident sites, a BBC correspondent reports.

Severe burns

The fuel truck broke down near Techiman in Ghana's Brong-Ahafo region, more than 290km (180 miles) north-west of the capital, Accra.

I've only ever seen something like this in television pictures from Nigeria Prince Yaw Donyina Techiman mayor

Many people carrying small containers rushed to the vehicle hoping to scoop some free petrol.

The truck then exploded, engulfing the crowd.

Those taken to hospital have severe burns all over their bodies, a local official said from the scene of the explosion.

One eyewitness said a soldier had stepped out of his car and was trying to disperse the people but he too was then caught up in the explosion.

He survived and was later flown by helicopter to the military hospital in Accra.

Overturned trucks are a common sight on the road to Techiman

Staff at the Holy Family Hospital in Techiman told the BBC they felt overwhelmed but were coping with the number of casualties.

Some have been transferred by ambulance to other hospitals in the region and to a specialist burns unit in Ghana's second city, Kumasi.

Techiman Mayor Prince Yaw Donyina, a candidate in next week's parliamentary elections, suspended campaigning to rush to the accident site.

"I've only ever seen something like this in television pictures from Nigeria," he told the BBC.

A similar incident happened in northern Cameroon in August and last year 98 people died as they tried to scoop up fuel from a broken-down tanker in Nigeria's Kaduna State.