Six students at the Nyaniba Health Assistant Training School hostel at Tema sustained various degrees of injury when a gas cylinder they were using for cooking exploded on Monday evening.
Three of the students, Christiana Yawson, 25, Evelyn Sekyi, 21, and Mildred Baufour, 22, who were severely burnt were rushed to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, while the others, Mary Mensah, 24, Gloria Nyeworlemah, 23, and Helena Dzenado, 20, were admitted at the Tema General Hospital.
Fire Service
The Tema Metropolitan Fire Officer, Mr William Abekah Blankson, said about 6:50 p.m. on Monday, Mr Kofi Asare, who lived close to the school, called the Fire Service to report that fire had engulfed the school at Tema Community 10.
He said when the personnel got to the scene at 7:00p.m., they saw that a section of the hostel was on fire and was spreading fast to the remaining three dormitories.
Mr Blankson said they immediately put the fire under control.
He said the six casualties were rescued and rushed to the hospital for treatment.
He disclosed that preliminary investigation showed that the valve of the gas cylinder was faulty and the gas was leaking while the students were cooking and that caused the explosion.
The fire destroyed part of the school hostel and items belonging to the students.
At the hospital
At the Tema General Hospital, the Senior Nursing Officer at the Accident Centre, Ms Mercy Ologo, said when the victims were brought to the hospital around 8:00 p.m. on Monday night, staff on duty gave them first aid and referred those with severe burns (third degree injuries) to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, adding that the National Ambulance Service was at hand to convey them to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
She said Helena Dzenado was treated and discharged but Mary Mensah and Gloria Nyeworlemah were transferred from the Accident Centre to the hospital’s Female Surgical Ward for further attention.
