DHAKA: Twenty students have died after trees fell on them in a freak accident while they were swimming in a river during a storm in Ghana, according to emergency officials.

Ghana National Fire Service spokesman Prince Billy Anaglate said the “unusual incident” happened yesterday afternoon, reports UK online news-portal mirror.com.

A group of high school students were swimming at the Kintampo Waterfalls, a popular tourist destination in the Brong-Ahafo region.

Anaglate told that a brewing storm caused trees to topple and fall on the teenagers while they were in the water.

Eighteen students died at the scene while two others died in hospital, Anaglate said.

Eleven more were receiving treatment, including one of the school administrators in charge of the trip.

“We extend our condolences to the families of the dead and pray for the injured,” said the country’s tourism minister Catherine Abelema Afeku in a statement.

Accidents ranging from deaths caused by mass flooding to petrol tanker explosions happen sporadically in Ghana because of lax regulations and disregard for rules.

BDST: 1555 HRS, MAR 20, 2017
AP