At least 17 people were killed, and 59 others were injured Thursday in a deadly explosion in a western Ghana town. The incident occurred when a vehicle carrying explosives destined for a mine collided with a motorcycle.

In Apiate, in Bogoso, around 300 kilometers (180 miles) west of the mineral-rich West African country's capital Accra, the blast caused a massive crater. It reduced dozens of structures to dust-covered piles of wood and metal.

Locals rushed towards a roaring fire and billowing plumes of black smoke to see the damage as rescue workers waded through the wreckage in search of survivors trapped in the devastation and recovering lifeless remains.

"Unfortunately, 17 people have been confirmed dead, while 59 others have been rescued," Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said in a midnight statement.

The minister stated that preliminary indications indicate "an accident involving a truck transporting explosive materials for a mining company, a motorcycle, and a third vehicle" near an electrical transformer.

42 of the 59 injured are receiving care in hospitals or health centers, Nkrumah stated, adding that "some are in critical condition."

Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo described the tragedy as "truly heartbreaking, unfortunate, and tragic" and sent "heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased."

'Ghost town'

Officials and eyewitnesses described a scene of desolation juxtaposed against a sea of collapsed or damaged structures.

"Today is a dark Thursday. So far, 500 residences have been impacted. Some have been completely destroyed by the explosion, while others have developed cracks," Sedzi Sadzi Amedonu, the National Disaster Management Organization's Deputy Coordinator, told AFP.

"It's almost deserted now."

Abena Mintah, a witness to the explosion, told local media that the truck's driver dropped from his hatch and shouted at others close to warning them away from the oncoming fire.

"Within a few minutes, a big blast was heard. I became disoriented and fell into a bush. I regained consciousness and noticed a few mutilated carcasses on the street," Mintah explained.

The government stated that those in critical condition would be transferred to Accra hospitals, while police urged residents to open their schools and churches to accommodate any additional victims.

The government claimed in a news release that a team of police and army explosion experts was mobilized to "avoid a second explosion" and implement security measures following the blast.

'Community has vanished.'

At 11:00 a.m. on Friday, emergency services were scheduled to update casualties (1100 GMT).

Dr. Isaac Dasmani, chief executive of the municipality of Prestea Huni-Valley, in which the explosion happened, informed local media that "the entire community has vanished" following the disaster.

"Every roof has been ripped off, and several structures have collapsed. Some were locked in their rooms. Unfortunately, some of them were already gone by the time we were able to save them," he told Ghana's TV3 network.

He said that authorities have established an access route to the location and are working to clear roads near the blast site on Friday.

Ghana has recently been shocked by a series of catastrophic explosions triggered by fuel spills.

In 2017, a tanker truck transporting natural gas caught fire in Accra, producing explosions at two gasoline stations and killing three persons.

In June 2015, a similar fire and explosion occurred in Ghana's capital, killing over 150 people who sought cover from seasonal rains and flooding at a gas station. The fire was suspected of being started by fuel floating in the floodwater.

In Ghana, Africa's second-largest gold producer after South Africa, fatal mining accidents are also common, but they are usually caused by the collapse of mines, generally illegal ones.

In June, at least nine persons were killed when an illegal mine in northern Ghana collapsed.