Briefly

GHANA

17 killed, 59 injured by massive explosion

At least 17 people were killed and 59 injured on Thursday in a devastating explosion in a western Ghana town after a truck carrying explosives intended for a mine collided with a motorcycle, the government said. The blast left a huge crater and reduced dozens of buildings to dust-covered piles of wood and metal in Apiate, near the city of Bogoso nearly 300 kilometers west of the mineral-rich West African country's capital Accra. Footage showed locals rushing toward a raging fire and rising plumes of black smoke to inspect the damage.

PERU

21 beaches polluted by spill linked to Tonga

The Peruvian government declared an environmental emergency on Thursday after announcing that 21 beaches on the Pacific coast were contaminated by an oil spill at a refinery run by Spain-based Repsol, following surging waves caused by the eruption of an underwater volcano near Tonga. President Pedro Castillo said a committee will be formed to propose ways of dealing with the crisis, in keeping with national policies aimed at protecting the environment.

Agencies Via Xinhua