This article may be excessively based on
contemporary reporting. (March 2024) |
Port Harcourt bus electrocution | |
---|---|
Details | |
Date | 13 February 2010 |
Location | Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria |
Statistics | |
Deaths | 11 |
Injured | 11 |
On 13 February 2010 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, eleven people were killed when a power cable fell on them.
At approximately 08:00 local time ( UTC+1) on 13 February 2010, [1] a road traffic incident in occurred in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, in which eleven people were killed. A 33 kilovolt electric cable snapped, [2] striking two Nissan Urvan buses, [1] and electrocuting many of the occupants. [3] [4] The incident occurred after a severe thunderstorm; the cable was believed to have been brought down by heavy rainfall. [2]
The majority of the casualties were bus passengers, though several passers-by were also struck. [5] The death toll is eleven; a further eleven having been hospitalised. Ten of the victims died in the incident or its immediate aftermath; the eleventh died in hospital on 14 February. [6]
There were conflicting reports on the death toll in the immediate aftermath of the incident. Eyewitnesses reported seeing as many as 40 bodies, [7] and several sources initially put the death toll at 20. [8] [9] The Rivers State government released a statement in which it said that no more than 10 people had been killed, while a police spokesperson announced that 12 others had suffered "severe burns". [4]
The state government has ordered a report from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria about why the cable was still live when it broke. [1] The state governor released a statement which stated: "We sympathise with the families of those involved in the tragedy. We pray God to grant the souls of the departed rest and to consolation [sic] to their families. While we are not apportioning blame, we want to say that the tragedy could have been averted if the PHCN had maintained the affected facility." [1]