Nine children at Faanaa, an island community in the Greater Accra region, have drowned.

The pupils are said to have drowned late afternoon on Wednesday while returning from school.

Twelve people including the boat owner were on the boat when the incident happened, killing nine of them.

Three people managed to swim to safety.

Initially, one child was unaccounted for, and after a search in the morning of Thursday, her body has been found.

Giving more details after visiting the town, JoyNews’ Carlos Calony said the boat owner is currently in police custody to assist with investigation.

He also revealed that the town has been thrown into a state of mourning following the incident.

Meanwhile, the bodies of the deceased have been sent to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital mortuary in Accra. Police have also called on parents of the victims to help identify their kin.

The incident follows a recent, equally unfortunate boat accident at Azizanya in the Ada estuary which also claimed eight lives.