By Agbaxode Emmanuel
Akatsi (VR), May 17, GNA – Two brothers have drowned in an abandoned quarry lake located between Live Donorkope and the Catholic Secretariat in the Akatsi South Municipality of the Volta Region after attempting to rescue their younger brother.
The deceased have been identified as Felix Dogbey, 18, a Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) graduate, and Christian Dogbey, 25, a worker at a food processing company at Asikuma.
Mr Daniel Gidi, the Akatsi South Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), told the Ghana News Agency that the incident occurred on May 15 at about 1600 hours.
He said the deceased, together with about nine relatives, had travelled to Live Donorkope for a funeral, where their mother resided, and later decided to visit the abandoned quarry lake for recreation without the supervision of residents from the area.
Mr Gidi said the incident occurred after the brothers’ nine-year-old sibling, Eric Dogbey, started drowning in the water-filled quarry pit.
“Felix, after realising that their brother was calling for help, decided to rescue him but ended up drowning after rescuing his younger brother,” he said.
He added that Christian, the elder brother, sensing danger, also entered the water in an attempt to rescue Felix, but both brothers drowned in the process.
Mr Gidi disclosed that the abandoned quarry pit was estimated to be between 18 and 24 metres deep.
He said initial rescue efforts by local divers on Friday, May 15 and Saturday May 16 proved futile.
According to him, officers from the Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC) at Sogakope Nutekpor were later contacted to assist with rescue operations but had to suspend efforts on Saturday evening due to poor visibility in the water.
“We called for help from the Navy officers, who decided to continue with rescue operations Sunday morning after experiencing poor visibility on Saturday evening inside the water,” he added.
Mr Daniel Dagba, the Akatsi South Municipal Chief Executive, together with officials from NADMO and other stakeholders, visited the scene on Saturday to assess the situation.
Mr Moses Gadri, the Assembly Member of the area, told the GNA that the deceased persons hailed from Akatsi Alagbokope but resided at Asikuma.
However, the bodies of the deceased were seen afloat on Sunday morning before the arrival of the Navy officers.
Personnel from the Akatsi Police Command, who maintained order at the scene, had since deposited the bodies at the St. Paul’s Hospital morgue pending autopsy.
The incident has thrown the community into a state of shock and mourning.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Reporter: Agbaxode Emmanuel