Death toll in Ghana explosion rises to 150

The death toll from a huge petrol station explosion and flooding in Ghana’s capital has more than doubled to 150 people, the president said last night.

Dozens of people had sought shelter at the petrol station and in nearby shops in central Accra to escape torrential rain when the blast happened last night.

Flooding swept fuel being stored at the station into a nearby fire, triggering the explosion that also set neighbouring buildings on fire, officials said.

The West African nation will observe three days of mourning with flags flying at half-mast, and the government will allocate about €12m for relief operations and to repair damaged infrastructure, President John Dramani Mahama told journalists before heading into an emergency meeting.

Before Mr Mahama’s announcement, the death toll stood at 73.

TV footage earlier today showed bodies being piled into the back of a pick-up truck and other charred remains trapped amid the debris. Floodwater around the site hampered rescue and recovery efforts.

Officials at the nearby 37 Military Hospital said its morgue had reached capacity. Mr Mahama visited the blast site during the day