A tragic dynamite explosion at a mining tailings site in Breman, near Aboso, has left four people dead and several others injured after a attempt to kill a python triggered a massive blast on Tuesday, August 4, 2026.
The deceased include the owner of the facility, David Kofi Fletcher, who was reportedly known to store explosive materials at the location.
Gunshot Triggers Massive Detonation
According to preliminary police findings and eyewitness accounts, the incident unfolded after site workers spotted a python on the premises and alerted Fletcher.
Fletcher arrived at the scene equipped with a pump-action shotgun to kill the reptile. However, upon firing, the gunshot missed or passed through the target, with pellets striking dynamite hidden around the site. The impact immediately detonated the high explosives, causing a destructive blast.
The explosion shook the surrounding area, with local residents initially mistaking the deafening sound and ground tremors for an earthquake.
"We heard a loud sound, which many of us thought was an earthquake," an eyewitness reported. "We later found out that a man known to deal in explosives had hidden some around the site. The gunshot missed the snake, hit the explosives, and triggered the blast."
The explosion caused immediate panic across the community as emergency personnel rushed to the scene to assist survivors, secure the site, and prevent secondary detonations.
Police and Minerals Commission Launch Investigation
The Western Central Regional Police Command confirmed the incident on Wednesday, August 5, stating that the bodies of the four deceased have been transferred to the morgue for post-mortem examinations. Medical teams continue to treat those injured in the blast.
Police confirmed that preliminary inquiries point to the accidental ignition of illegally stored commercial explosives by shotgun pellets.
"The Minerals Commission has been notified and is collaborating with the Police as investigations continue to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident," the police statement noted.
Regulators and law enforcement are examining the legality of the explosives stored at the tailings site as part of the ongoing investigation.
