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”.

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,