Four children have died from lightning strike, while one person is in critical condition at Sefwi Awaso, near Bibiani, following a rainstorm that hit parts of the Western North Region on Monday.
The heart-wrenching tragedy occurred on the wee hours of Monday during the downpour.
The deceased persons were aged between six and 14 years. According to reports, two of them were siblings and the rest were from different parents.
The Assembly Member for the area, Samuel Gyapong, who visited the families of the deceased persons, told journalists that the children, numbering about five, were playing outside on that fateful day when it was raining.
He said while the children were in the rain, one of them got hurt and the rest drew closer to attend to him.
“As they rushed to assist him, suddenly there was thunder and lightning strikes, which purportedly hit the children, killing one instantly and leaving the rest motionless on the ground.
“Onlookers who saw what has happened rushed to the scene and shouted for support to save the lives of the children,” he added.
He said, “Unfortunately, one of the children died instantly. The remaining four were quickly rushed to Green Shield Hospital in Sefwi Bekwai, where three of them were pronounced dead.”
He, however, indicated that the only survivor, a six-year-old boy, is currently responding to treatment.
“The boy has been able to speak, and even requested that he should be given food to eat,” Agyapong disclosed.
He said residents at ‘Awaso Compound’, who are mostly workers of Ghana Bauxite Company, cried uncontrollably because the parents of the deceased children are workers of the company.
“It is part of life. We cannot do anything about it. God knows best,” one of the parents remarked.
Meanwhile, the bodies of the deceased have since been deposited at the Anhwiaso Community Mortuary pending autopsy.
The police have also commenced investigations into the unfortunate incident.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi