Lawra SHS Drowning: Final two bodies recovered, death toll hits 7
The search operation for the missing students of Lawra Senior High School has officially ended after the final two bodies were recovered early Sunday morning, bringing the death toll to seven.
Local authorities confirmed that the last two bodies were found in the Dewo River, about two kilometres downstream from the Dikpe River, where the tragic incident occurred on Saturday. This marked the conclusion of a nearly 24-hour recovery effort following the canoe disaster.
The students, all members of the school’s cadet corps, were on a routine jogging exercise when they attempted to cross the Black Volta River at Dikpe using a canoe. The vessel capsized midstream, tossing all ten students into the river.
Three of the students managed to swim to safety, while seven others were initially unaccounted for. A joint team comprising residents, NADMO officials, and volunteers immediately launched a rescue operation, where five bodies had been retrieved by Saturday evening. The final two were discovered early Sunday, offering closure to the search efforts.
The Municipal Chief Executive, together with education and security officials, is set to meet the bereaved families to coordinate support, including psychosocial counselling and funeral arrangements.
