Former President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma has sent his heartfelt condolences to the President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo following an explosion in Bogoso, a town in western Ghana which is just 1,874.8 kilometers to Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Many people were feared dead in the explosion which occurred on Thursday evening when a mining truck carrying explosives for a gold mine collided with a motorcycle, according to local authorities.

“A total of 17 people have unfortunately been confirmed dead, and 59 injured people have been rescued,” Ghana’s Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said in a statement released overnight.

Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo called it a “truly sad, unfortunate and tragic incident”.

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The government said those in critical condition would be moved to hospitals in Accra and police asked surrounding villages to open their schools and churches to accommodate any additional casualties.

A team of police and army explosion experts were deployed to “avoid a second explosion” and put in place security measures after the blast, the government said in a press release.

“Wishing my heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of #Ghana, @NAkufoAddo. Such a massive explosion in Bogoso, is truly regrettable. We pray with Ghana Flag of Ghana for the souls of the departed to Rest In Peace and for the survivors.”, Koroma wrote,