Over 150 people have so far perished in the fire and floods disaster in Ghana, the country’s authoritative Graphic newspaper has reported.

“The combined death toll in the fire and floods has now surpassed 150,” the paper said this afternoon in its online edition.

Graphic Online said it gathered that the catastrophic fire at a Goil Filling Station at Circle in Accra Wednesday, which killed about 100 people, was sparked by a lightning which struck a house close to the filling station.

“On another day, the death toll would not have been that high, but following torrential rains which caused flooding in several parts of Accra Wednesday night, many people had sought refuge at the filling station to escape flood waters from the overflowing Odaw River and uncovered drains, when the lightning struck, triggering the explosion,” the paper said.

According to it, “The flood waters in the area had been laden with huge quantities of petrol and diesel from the fuel station’s storage tank, which was said to have been breached by the floods.

“The resulting scene was that of devastation, as charred bodies littered what remained of the fuel station.

“Some of the victims had their intestines gushing out, while others were headless, with their limbs completely burnt.”

Ghana’s President John Mahama described the incident as ‘catastrophic’ and has declared a three-day mourning period – beginning from Monday – in honour of the victims of the fire as well as those who died in floods in other parts of Accra.

Mahama also announced last night that GHC50 million has been allocated to cover relief and humanitarian operations, detailing and clearing of water ways and repair of infrastructure.

•Photo, courtesy of Graphic Online, shows what remains of Goil filling station Accra after the fire disaster.