Mkpoikana Udoma 21 April 2017, Sweetcrude, Calabar – Over 50 people have been reported dead at a football viewing centre in Calabar, Cross River State capital, after being electrocuted by a high tension cable that reportedly fell on them.
The football fans, according to an eye witness, were said to have gathered last night at the centre to watch a UEFA Europa League quarter-final match between Manchester United FC and Anderlecht FC.
The eye witness, who gave his name as Otu Duke, explained that the victims were watching a football match in a house made of zinc, built under high tension cables, near the University Of Calabar.
Duke said one of the cables cut from its mooring and literally fried the young boys and girls at the viewing centre to death.
He further explained that the Police arrived later to evacuate both the dead and the wounded.
Confirming the incident, the management of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, PHEDC, has apologised for what it described as “unfortunate accident in Calabar.”
The Port Harcourt Disco in a statement by its spokesperson, Mr. John Onyi, said the 11KV feeder which caused the incident has been isolated to ensure that no further damage is done, adding that investigation is ongoing to ascertain the cause of the accident.
According to the statement, “The PHED has just received a disturbing report that Unical 11kv feeder snapped 9.50pm last night at Nsaha Effiom Street , Calabar, the Cross River state capital culminating into unascertained number of causalities as a result of the unfortunate incident.
“PHED wishes to inform members of the public especially those on the affected street that the feeder has been isolated to ensure that no further damage is done on lives of our customers and their properties while investigation has already begun to ascertain the remote and immediate cause of such unfortunate accident.
“While we await the outcome of the investigation, our customers are advised to remain calm, law abiding and accord our men the necessary cooperation to unravel the cause of the unfortunate incident.”