Tanker burnt at Tema industrial area

Fires engulfed  a petrol tanker yard at the Tema heavy industrial area, burning property worth several thousands of cedis.

Two unidentified persons who were reportedly injured were rushed to the hospital.

When the Daily Graphic got to the scene, several burnt barrels were scattered around, while one of the tankers was burnt  beyond recognition. 

Narrating the incident, the Tema Regional Fire Commander, Mr Gilford Tetteh Adams,  said at about 2 p.m. on Wednesday, the station received a distress signal about fire in a yard at the industrial area.

He said fire personnel went to the scene and saw the  yard in flames.

Mr Tetteh Adams said  they managed to bring the fire  under control  after 30 minutes.

He said the fire started when some drivers in connivance with those he called ‘bele bele boys’ used pump to siphon fuel from a tanker.

Mr Tetteh Adams said  the driver of the tanker  bolted to escape arrest and the tanker was burnt beyond recognition.

He disclosed that the area was a business yard where tankers which had loaded at the Tema Oil Refinery  went  to dislodge some of their products.

Mr Tetteh Adams said several operations had been mounted by the police to arrest culprits but they continued to operate.

He cautioned that with the harmattan wind blowing, people needed to be extra careful in dealing with flammable products.

Mr Tetteh Adams  said some of the barrels parked in the yard had palm oil which supposedly belonged to soap production companies.

He stated that  the fire service  and the police would be vigilant on the operations of the yard to ensure it did not continue to  cause danger  to property and human life in the area.

Daily Graphic/Ghana