Many schoolchildren feared dead in Apam sea; 13 bodies of retrieved
At least a dozen children are feared to have drowned after they went swimming in the sea at Apam in the Central Region.
The kids were reported to have sneaked to go and swim on Sunday, March 7, a day after the country’s 64th Independence Anniversary celebrations.
Two children of ages 14 and 15 survived and are currently on admission at the Apam Hospital.
The Central Regional Public Relations Directorate confirmed to theghanareport.com that 12 bodies had been retrieved as of Monday, March 8.
They included two females ranging between ages 14 and 17 years. The bodies have been deposited at the St. Luke Catholic Hospital morgue.
Numbering over 20, they went to play football at the beach and decided to go and swim afterwards at about 5 pm, but a tidal wave swept them.
The police said on March 7, 2021, at 8:40 pm, a complainant Kwame Akono accompanied by Justice Mensah, residents of Apam, came to the office and formerly reported that their nephew of 15 years went to the beach but got drowned together with other children.
Police proceeded to the scene together with the District Chief Executive, where a search party was organised, leading to the rescue of the survivors.
The team of police and other searchers are making frantic efforts to locate the other bodies and any other survivors.
Residents have been cautioned to avoid the beach following the COVID-19 outbreak, but the kids defied the orders.
The children are said to have trooped to the seashore in their numbers despite the ban on beaches, among others.
The Apam District Police Commander, DSP Moses Osakono, confirmed the news in an interview with Adom News’ Kofi Adjei.
According to him, they were shocked when they received a distress call about the incident, stating the beach remained closed since the coronavirus outbreak.
“We engaged the fisher folks who leave close to the sea and they were equally shocked but it is believed that they used an unusual route and accessed the place on the blindside of everyone,” he said.
