Breaking: 7 Dead As High Tension Cable Drops On Calabar Match Viewing Center

By Ushang Ewa

The victims at UCTH (Photo: AIT/Rasheed Olanrewaju)

At least seven (7) football fans have died due to electrocution following a transformer explosion Thursday night at Inyangasang area of Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

CrossRiverWatch gathered that a high tension cable dropped on a match viewing centre after the explosion causing about 30 fans watching a football match to be electrocuted with 7 reported dead at the scene while about 23 suffered first, second and third degree burns.

The death toll is expected to rise further with some giving up the ghost on their way to the hospital a hospital source told CrossRiverWatch.

The transformer, popularly referred to as ‘First Transformer’ located meters away from Access school exploded at about 9:00 PM with some football fans watching a UEFA Europa league game between Manchester United and Anderlecht football clubs running out of the match viewing center.

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“Upon return, their colleagues were making jest of them not knowing a high tension cable was melting from above which then landed on the viewing center causing them to be electrocuted,” said a resident of the area who preferred anonymity.

This caused another scramble with onlookers screaming at the top of their voices but unable to help the resident said.

Minutes later, men of the State Anti Robbery Squad in the Cross River State Police Command cordoned off the area with those electrocuted, transported to different hospitals in the city including the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.

As at press time, CrossRiverWatch was yet to get comments from authorities including the Calabar Business District of the PortHarcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) which is charged with distributing power in the state.

More details later…

Residents gather to chatter on the incident (Photo: AIT/Rasheed Olanrewaju)

Residents inside the viewing center aiding the evacuation of victims (Photo: AIT/Rasheed Olanrewaju)

Charred remains of the viewing center (Photo: AIT/Rasheed Olanrewaju)

More charred remains of the viewing center (Photo: AIT/Rasheed Olanrewaju)

Remains of the ‘First Transformer’ (Photo: AIT/Rasheed Olanrewaju)

Ambulance arrives UCTH with some of the victims (Photo: AIT/Rasheed Olanrewaju)

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