At least 18 people were killed when a large tree fell into the pool they were swimming in at the base of a waterfall in Ghana, police said on Monday.

The waterfall, near the town of Kintampo, was busy with weekend visitors, many of them high school students, when the accident happened on Sunday.

Desmond Owusu Boampong, a local police commander, told Reuters news agency that 20 more people were being treated in a hospital. Another police commander said 22 were injured.

My heart goes out to the families killed in the #Kintampo waterfall accident. Terrible disaster. #Ghana pic.twitter.com/5tdnXSld9x — Benjamin Tetteh (@benjieluv) March 20, 2017

"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," firefighter Kwaku Boateng said.

"It was a difficult operation because ... some untrained members of the public joined in a desperate attempt to help. We swung into action immediately with many of our men diving into the water. We used chainsaws and other cutting tools to chop the tree in pieces in order to free the victims," he said.

Pictures in local media showed thick branches lying in a pool at the base of the waterfall.

Other photographs showed bodies, some wearing bathing suits, placed in rows on the ground or piled into pick-up trucks.

@Gidi_Traffic 20 students have died after trees fell on them at Kintampo waterfalls, a popular waterfall in Ghana,while they were swimming pic.twitter.com/adLd2jTogh — AustynZOGS (@Austynzogs) March 20, 2017

The disaster occurred not long after a rainstorm in the area located in Ghana's middle belt Brong Ahafo region, which is known for heavy rains at this time of year.

Ghana's Tourism Minister Catherine Afeku, heading to the scene to meet families of victims, said an investigation would be conducted.

President Nana Akufo-Addo sent his condolences via his official Twitter feed.

I have learnt with great sadness, the unfortunate incident that occurred at Kintampo Waterfalls yesterday. (1/2) — Nana Akufo-Addo (@NAkufoAddo) March 20, 2017</s>Ghana Fire Service on Monday said no fewer than 18 people were killed by a falling tree while swimming at a popular waterfall spot in southern Ghana.

Students from Wenchi Methodist Senior High School and the University of Energy and Natural Resources were on an excursion at the Kintampo Waterfalls in Brong Ahafo region on Sunday.

A further 20 people were being treated in hospital, Desmond Owusu Boampong, a local police commander, told newsmen.

“No fewer than 18 people were killed when a large tree fell into the pool they were bathing in at the base of a waterfall in Ghana.

“Sixteen of the fatalities were reported to be students, while a large number of people were injured,’’ police said.

Ada Kumi from the fire service said the large tree was believed to have been brought down by strong winds.

“For now, the number that has been confirmed by the hospital is 18.

“We are yet to confirm reports that two more have died,’’ Kumi said.</s>Up to 20 people have died and many have been injured after a large tree fell on them at a popular waterfall spot in Kintampo, Ghana.

They were swimming during a storm when the freak accident happened, emergency officials said.

The tree had seemingly been brought down by the storm.

Ghana National Fire Service spokesman Prince Billy Anaglate said the incident happened at the Kintampo waterfalls in the Brong-Ahafo region.

A combined team of police and fire service personnel attended the accident site, in a bid to rescue those trapped by the tree.

“A huge tree fell at the top when the rains began and crashed the revellers,” an eyewitness told Ghana’s Starr News.

“Most of them are students of the Wenchi Senior High School. Others are tourists. We are trying to save those who are trapped by cutting the trees with chainsaws.”

Fire Service spokesman Mr Anaglate told AFP that 18 students had died at the scene, while two others died in hospital.

He said 11 people were receiving treatment, including one of the school administrators in charge of the trip.

Other reports put the number of injured at over 20. They are being treated at the Kintampo Municipal hospital.

“We extend our condolences to the families of the dead and pray for the injured,” Ghana’s tourism minister Catherine Abelema Afeku said in a statement. BBC News</s>Up to 20 people have been killed and several others injured after a huge tree fell on people near a popular waterfall in Kintampo, Ghana.

Police said the victims of the freak accident had been swimming during a storm when the tree fell and crashed into the revellers.

Emergency workers have been trying to free the victims by cutting through the tree with chainsaws, according to the Ghana Starr News.

"Most of them are students of the Wenchi Senior High School, others are tourists," said one eyewitness.

Ghana National Fire Service spokesman Prince Billy Anaglate said that 18 people died at the scene and two others died in hospital - but the overall death toll remains unclear.</s>At least 20 more people also injured in the incident near Kintampo town, according to police.

At least 18 people were killed when a large tree fell into the pool they were swimming in at the base of a waterfall in Ghana, police said on Monday.

The waterfall, near the town of Kintampo, was busy with weekend visitors, many of them high school students, when the accident happened on Sunday.

Desmond Owusu Boampong, a local police commander, told Reuters news agency that 20 more people were being treated in a hospital. Another police commander said 22 were injured.

"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 said.

"It was a difficult operation because ... some untrained members of the public joined in a desperate attempt to help. We swung into action immediately with many of our men diving into the water. We used chainsaws and other cutting tools to chop the tree in pieces in order to free the victims," he said.

Pictures in local media showed thick branches lying in a pool at the base of the waterfall.

Other photographs showed bodies, some wearing bathing suits, placed in rows on the ground or piled into pick-up trucks.

The disaster occurred not long after a rainstorm in the area located in Ghana's middle belt Brong Ahafo region, which is known for heavy rains at this time of year.

Ghana's Tourism Minister Catherine Afeku, heading to the scene to meet families of victims, said an investigation would be conducted.

President Nana Akufo-Addo sent his condolences via his official Twitter feed.</s>ACCRA, Ghana — A large tree fall during a storm at Ghana’s Kintampo Waterfall has killed at least 17 people, mostly students, as they were visiting the site north of the capital on Sunday, officials said Monday.

As of Monday, 17 bodies have been retrieved at the resort, about 414 kilometres north of the capital of Accra, Ghana police commander Desmond Owusu-Boampong told local media. Most of the dead are students from the Wenchi Methodist Secondary School and the University of Energy and Natural Resources, he said.

Ghana’s Tourism Minister Catherine Afeku has expressed sympathies to the families of the victims caught in the tragic rainstorm at Kintampo waterfalls.

“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 police and Kintampo local officials to ensure the families receive needed support and information, she said.</s>ACCRA: At least 18 people were killed when a large tree fell into the pool they were bathing in at the base of a waterfall in Ghana, crushing people enjoying a day out at a popular beauty spot, police said.

The waterfall, near the town of Kintampo, was busy with weekend daytrippers, many of them students, when the freak accident struck on Sunday.

A further 20 people were being treated in hospital, Desmond Owusu Boampong, a local police commander, told Reuters.</s>At least 20 high school students in Ghana died on Sunday (19 March) in a freak accident at the popular Kintampo waterfalls in the Brong-Ahafo region.

Emergency officials said that the students died when trees, uprooted due to a storm, fell on them while they were swimming in a river near the waterfall.

National fire service spokesman Prince Billy Anaglate reportedly said that 18 students were confirmed dead at the scene while two others died in a hospital. He added that 11 others were injured in the incident, including one of the school administrators who was in charge of the trip. The injured were receiving treatment, he noted.

Elaborating on the "unusual incident", Analgate said: "They were swimming in the river when there was a storm, a windy atmosphere that had uprooted some of the trees and they had fallen on some of them - those who were apparently swimming."

An eyewitness told Starr News that most of the students belonged to Wenchi Senior High School in Ghana. "A huge tree fell at the top when the rains began and crashed the revelers. So far we have counted 16 people," the person said, adding that they were trying to save those who were trapped by cutting the trees with chainsaws.

Ghana's tourism minister Catherine Abelema Afeku has extended condolences to the families of the victims and prayed for the injured, Sky News reported.

The Kintampo Waterfalls, which was referred to as Sanders Falls during the colonial days, is considered to be the highest falls in Ghana. It is located on the Pumpum river - a tributary of the Black Volta, about 4km north of Kintampo municipality.</s>Up to 20 people have died after a tree fell on them during a freak storm at the Kintampo Waterfalls in Ghana.

It is believed many of those who died were students and were swimming when the incident occurred.

It is reported many of the injured were taken to Kintampo Municipal hospital.

"A huge tree fell at the top when the rains began and crashed the revelers," an eyewitness told Starr News.

"Most of them are students of the Wenchi Senior High School. Others are tourists. We are trying to save those who are trapped by cutting the trees with chainsaws."</s>A large tree that fell during a storm at Ghana's Kintampo Waterfall killed at least 17 people, mostly students, as they were visiting the site north of the capital, officials said Monday.

As of Monday, 17 bodies have been recovered at the resort, about 414 kilometers (257 miles) north of the capital, Accra, Ghana police commander Desmond Owusu-Boampong told local media. Most of the dead are students from the Wenchi Methodist Secondary School and the University of Energy and Natural Resources, he said.

Paul M. Agyemang, a fire officer who lives in Kintampo, said that when his team arrived Sunday there were at least 20 dead who had been swimming in water as the tree was uprooted and fell.

A video posted by Agyemang on his Facebook page of the aftermath shows rescuers still searching in the brown muddied water below a large waterfall, as the bodies of some 10 young students lie on the grass.

Ghana's tourism minister, Catherine Afeku, expressed sympathies to the families of the victims.

"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 police and Kintampo local officials to ensure the families receive needed support and information, she said.
A large tree falls into a pool at the base of the Kintampo waterfalls in Ghana, killing at least 18 people and injuring 22 others.