More than 30 football viewers die in Calabar during ManUtd's game against Anderlecht
More than 30 people have died at a football viewing centre in Calabar, Cross River state after high tension electricity cable broke from its mooring and fell on the building. The football fans assembled at the centre to watch a UEFA Europa League quarter-final match between Manchester United and Anderlecht on satellite television, a game the host won 2-1 (3-2) on aggregate to advance to the semi-final. A survivor told The Punch that a transformer near the viewing centre at the Iyang-Esu area of the Calabar Municipal local government area exploded while the match was on-going and this caused a high-tension cable to drop on the viewing centre.
The survivor said amid sobs: “It happened during the match between Manchester United and Anderlecht. I heard a deafening loud bang. I rushed out to see what was happening. When I turned back to go inside the viewing centre, I saw a cable coming down on the centre and this killed the viewers inside the hall.
“It was a horrible sight to behold. I wish I didn’t come out to watch the match. Come to think of it, I have DStv at home but I enjoy watching matches at viewing centres. I could have been dead by now. I can’t believe that the people I was chatting and joking with a few minutes ago are all dead in a most anguishing way. This world is vain.”
An anonymous resident, said more than eighty persons were in the hall when the cable came down.
The resident said: “The whole thing happened within a minute or two. It happened about 9:48pm. Those that died have been taken to the mortuary. A few that survived have been taken to hospitals.”
Some survivors at the hospital
The Police Public Relations Officer, Cross River state Command, Irene Ugbo, said the number of casualties would be confirmed today, Friday, April 21 . Meanwhile, Governor of Cross River state,Ben Ayade described these death as a major tragic event in the state
On a condolence visit to the families of the victims of the diseased, the governor promised that the state government will look into the likely cause of the incident with a view to preventing a reccurence.
More than 30 people have died at a football viewing centre in Calabar, Cross River state after high tension electricity cable broke from its mooring and fell on the building. The football fans assembled at the centre to watch a UEFA Europa League quarter-final match between Manchester United and Anderlecht on satellite television, a game the host won 2-1 (3-2) on aggregate to advance to the semi-final. A survivor told The Punch that a transformer near the viewing centre at the Iyang-Esu area of the Calabar Municipal local government area exploded while the match was on-going and this caused a high-tension cable to drop on the viewing centre.
The survivor said amid sobs: “It happened during the match between Manchester United and Anderlecht. I heard a deafening loud bang. I rushed out to see what was happening. When I turned back to go inside the viewing centre, I saw a cable coming down on the centre and this killed the viewers inside the hall.
“It was a horrible sight to behold. I wish I didn’t come out to watch the match. Come to think of it, I have DStv at home but I enjoy watching matches at viewing centres. I could have been dead by now. I can’t believe that the people I was chatting and joking with a few minutes ago are all dead in a most anguishing way. This world is vain.”
An anonymous resident, said more than eighty persons were in the hall when the cable came down.
The resident said: “The whole thing happened within a minute or two. It happened about 9:48pm. Those that died have been taken to the mortuary. A few that survived have been taken to hospitals.”
The Police Public Relations Officer, Cross River state Command, Irene Ugbo, said the number of casualties would be confirmed today, Friday, April 21 . Meanwhile, Governor of Cross River state,Ben Ayade described these death as a major tragic event in the state
On a condolence visit to the families of the victims of the diseased, the governor promised that the state government will look into the likely cause of the incident with a view to preventing a reccurence.
Comments
Post a Comment
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the comment writers alone and does not reflect or represent the views of the blogger.