Alarm as another high tension wire kills two, destroys houses

Two people were killed and properties worth millions of naira destroyed after a high tension wire snapped and dropped on a container being used as a shop.

The incident happened at Adak Uko Street, off Mbukpa Road, Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State, on Monday around 8pm.

An eye witness, Mr. Itorobong Akpan, said that a block of 20 rooms also went up in flame after the wire dropped.

He added:  “This would the fifth time high tension wire would be dropping within two months. Yesterday, around 8:00pm, we heard a noise and suddenly, the cable fell off and landed on our roofs. There was a huge vibration and suddenly everywhere was light up in the compound. The zinc, protectors and fans all turned reddish and power was still on.

 “We called the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) several times, but there was no response. We called the State Fire Service and there was also no response. It was the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Mbukpa, who finally went to the fire fighters, to persuade them to come. But they refused, saying government had not given them money to repair their vehicles. We contacted the Federal Airport Fire Service for solace, and they said they were not coming. All these happened for over 40 minutes and all these while, the power was still on.”

According to Akpan, most occupants of the affected buildings were around when the inferno started.  

He disclosed that a young boy died after he ran out of the apartment and touched a pole. He was immediately electrocuted. Another victim, a woman, was also electrocuted after she placed hand on the contain she used as a shop.

“I remembered shouting and telling those inside their apartments to remain there. They heeded my advice; that was why many lives were not lost. It could have been worse. I also stayed put in my shop,” said Akpan.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for Mbukpa Police Station, Mr Peter Gomba, confirmed the incident. He expressed regrets that the state fire service lacked the capacity to come to the aid of the people, especially when their services were needed.

He commended youths of the community for cooperating with the police to ensure that the number of causalities and incidences of looting were minimized.

In April this year, people were electrocuted in a similar manner during a football match at Nyangesang, outskirts of the state capital.