The Western Central Regional Police Command has launched investigations into an explosion at a tailings site in Aboso near Tarkwa that claimed three lives and left three others injured with preliminary findings pointing to a suspected illegal storage of explosives.

Police say the explosion occurred around midday on Tuesday, August 4.

According to investigators, workers at the site reportedly spotted a python and alerted the owner, identified as David Kofi Fletcher. 

He is said to have arrived with a pump-action shotgun to kill the reptile.

Police suspect that after a shot was fired, the pellets struck explosive materials believed to have been unlawfully stored at the site, triggering a powerful blast.

The explosion killed Mr Fletcher and two other persons identified only as Solomon and Baba. 

Three others sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment at hospital.