Tema: Fire Guts Michel Camp Armory

Some Tema residents around Base Ammunition Depot at Michel Camp were evacuated from the area after a fire outbreak at the depot. Soldiers ushered residents to safety after the community was put on alert when small explosions were heard coming from the armory at around 10:30 on Tuesday evening.

According to sources, the fire was detected in the laboratory and the small arms zone of the depot.

“We were sleeping and we heard the explosion around 10: 30 pm to 11:00 pm. We rushed out and saw that it was the BAD [Base Ammunition Depot] which was burning and we saw that that soldiers were running out and telling us to that we should leave the area,” a resident recounted to Citi News.

Some residents were alert to the danger as soon as they started hearing the small explosions.

“Those of us who grew up here, we know that there are certain explosives. This is the Ghana armed Forces armory so we know it is likely there is a fire in the armory so we came out and we saw that really, there is a disaster looming,” another resident said.

Residents were seen in standing in the open early on Wednesday morning and some even had to travel as far as Families had to walk towards Ashaiman and Afienya for safety.

Patients from the Crystal Hospital, located near the depot, were also evacuated from the area.

“Some of them we held their hands. Some of them we use the wheelchair to push them. They are safe now,” a nurse said to Citi News.

The fire was eventually contained around 2 am and no casualties have been recorded.

The blaze was prevented from spreading to the highly explosive zone of the depot where long-range ordinances are kept.

There has so far been no comment from officials.

Watch photos below.

Photo: Flames from the burning armoury lighted the night sky on Wednesday .

Photo: A resident holds the tip of a fused out missile

Photo: This huge missile flew into a nearby home during the fire.

Photo: This explosive, said to be a long-range missile, fused out during the fire

Photo (above): An explosive from the armoury hit this wooden structure that serves as home for a resident. Joy News reporter, Ewoenam Atiamoah-Eli, who has been at the scene said at least three homes were hit by flying explosives.

Photo: Shaken residents gather at a compound hit by some of the explosives

Source: citinewsroom.com / Myjoyonline.com