At least 17 revelers and tourists mostly high school students died
after a huge tree fell on them at Kintampo waterfalls in Brong Ahafo
Region, Ghana on Sunday, March 19th.
Huge trees fell from uphill crushing and trapping people in the water. Many are still trapped in there. Several
others injured in the accident are receiving treatment at
the regional hospital, according to Kintampo divisional police commander Desmond
Boampong.
There are currently different
versions of casualties. Another police officer Desmond Oppong Boanu said the death toll was 18.
The victims, who are mostly senior
high school students, were on an excursion and swimming beneath the
fall when a rainstorm accompanied by a strong wind and thunder forced
the tree to fall over them.
Personnel of the Ghana National Fire
Service and the police service are currently at the scene to rescue
those trapped under the fallen tree.
A statement issued by
Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Catherine Abelema Afeku, on
the tragic incident and death of students, reads:
“The Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture , Hon. Catherine Abelema
Afeku, wishes to express her sincere sympathies and condolences to the
families of the victims caught up in the unfortunate rainstorm that hit
the Kintampo waterfalls on Sunday 19th March 2017, killing and injuring
many . The dead and injured, mostly students were part of different
groups visiting the site .
“We
extend our condolences to the families of the dead and pray for the
injured who have been rushed to the Kintampo and Techiman General
Hospitals”, she said.
“The
Ghana Tourism Authority will work closely with the Ghana Police and the
Kintampo District Assembly to ensure the families receive needed support
and information. The statement urges the media and the General Public
to be circumspect in their reportage especially in the sharing of images
of the dead and critically injured.”
360L
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