At least 18 people - mostly students- have died after a large tree fell into a pool at Ghana's Kintampo Waterfall. The unusual accident occurred right after a rainstorm in the region.
Extensive deforestation in Ghana has prompted the emergence of a program to raise awareness of the problem and train rural communities to set up their own legal milling businesses. (30.01.2017)
The German government has unveiled a plan to help Ghana deal with electronic waste at Agbogbloshie, a major dumping site outside of the capital, Accra. The project aims to protect both workers and the environment. (19.03.2017)
Some women in Ghana do not like to consult male midwives when they are pregnant. The Ghanaian government has scrapped a pilot project which allowed men to be trained as midwives. (28.02.2017)
Heavy rains caused a large tree to fall on a group of swimmers at the base of a waterfall in Ghana, drowning and crushing at least 18 people, police said on Monday.
The waterfall, located near the town of Kintampo, was full of weekend daytrippers when the freak accident happened on Sunday.
Most of the deceased are students from the Wenchi Methodist Secondary School and the University of Energy and Natural Resources, Ghana police commander Desmond Owusu-Boampong told local media.
He added that another 20 people were being treated at local hospitals.
"It was the upper part of one of the biggest trees that came crashing down on them. It was a horrifying scene as the area was engulfed in screams and shouts for help as we arrived," fireman Kwaku Boateng told Reuters news agency.
Boateng added that they had to use chainsaws and other cutting tools hack through the branches to free the victims.
Pictures used by local media showed the tree's thick branches lying in a pool at the base of the waterfall, which is popular with tourists. Other images showed bodies - some wearing bathing suits - placed on the ground.
"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," said Ghana's Tourism Minister Catherine Afeku.
She added that an investigation would be conducted into the incident.
rs/kms (AP, AFP, dpa, Reuters)
Read Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS