20 confirmed dead after Kintampo freak tree accident
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
A freak accident caused twenty deaths and some injuries, according to officials, at the well-known Kintampo waterfall, in Ghana, on Sunday afternoon local time. Those affected were reportedly school students from Wenchi Senior High School on a supervised trip, and several tourists, who were swimming at the time of a rainstorm and strong winds, bringing down a tree and crushing victims.
Eighteen students, according to Ghana National Fire Service spokesman Prince Billy Anaglate, were killed at the falls, while another two were rushed to hospital and died in care. Varying reports indicated possibly up to 18 people remaining in a critical condition who were trapped under the tree, who were then rescued and rushed to hospital, including a Wenchi Senior High School administrator.
Anaglate said the wind uprooted trees, which fell on swimmers.
Students' bodies have been sent to the Kintampo Municipal Hospital's morgue.
Sources
- "Ghana waterfall: Many dead in Kintampo freak tree accident" — BBC News Online, March 20, 2017
- Li Qian. "Many students killed in freak tree accident at Ghana waterfall" — CGTN, March 20, 2017
- AFP. "20 students die in freak tree accident in Ghana" — Inquirer.net, March 20, 2017
- "17 feared dead in bizarre Kintampo Water Fall disaster" — Joy Online, March 20, 2017