Three people drowned and two others swam to safety when their canoe capsized on the Black Volta.

A woman and two men drowned while two others managed to swim to safety.

The victims are from Briffoh in the Lawra Municipality of the Upper West Region.

The incident happened at about 5pm last Friday when they were returning from market in Burkina Faso.

Mr Robert Seuzagla, Lawra Municipal Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), who visited the scene of the accident, told The Finder that life jackets were provided to the people around the Black Volta last year, but they were not using them.

He has, therefore, promised to intensify education on the use of life jackets.

The bodies of the deceased have been handed over to their families after doctors examined them.

The families have started mourning in line with the customs and traditions of the people of Briffoh.