A local police chief in the African country of Ghana presided upon by Nana Akufo-Addo has said that at least 18 people, mainly high school students, have died after a large tree fell on them at a popular waterfall spot in Kintampo, Ghana.

According to Ceoafrica, Owusu Boampong said that the students were swimming during a storm when the freak incident happened.

It was gathered that rescue teams used chainsaws to cut through the fallen tree and free those trapped underneath, but twenty-two others were injured and are being treated at local hospitals.

President Nana Akufo-Addo has tweeted his condolences to the families of the victims.

Police and fire service personnel were involved in the rescue operation at the scene in Ghana's central Brong-Ahafo region, 400km (250 miles) north of the capital Accra.

An eyewitness said that most of those involved were students of the Wenchi Senior High School, but that there were also tourists.