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.