Nigerian bus electrocutions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nigerian bus electrocutions
Details
Date13 February 2010
LocationNigeria
Statistics
Deaths11

The Nigerian bus electrocution was a road traffic incident in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria in which eleven people were killed. The incident occurred at approximately 08:00 local time (UTC+1) on 13 February 2010[1] when a 33 kilovolt electric cable snapped,[2] striking two Nissan Urvan buses,[1] and electrocuted 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]

Casualties[]

The majority of the casualties were bus passengers, though several passers-by were also struck.[5] As of 15 February 2010, the death toll stand at eleven, with a further eleven hospitalised. Ten of the victims died in the incident or its immediate aftermath; the eleventh died in hospital on 14 February.[6]

Aftermath[]

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]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d Isine, Ibanga (14 February 2010). "Collapse of PHCN cable: 30 persons feared dead in PH". punchng.com. The Punch. Archived from the original on 18 February 2010. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
  2. ^ a b Chukwurah, Henry (14 February 2010). "Black Saturday". Sunday Sun. . Archived from the original on 1 March 2010. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
  3. ^ "20 dead in Nigeria bus tragedy". Scotland On Sunday. Johnston Press. 14 February 2010. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
  4. ^ a b "Ten people killed as power cable falls on Nigeria bus". BBC News. BBC. 13 February 2010. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
  5. ^ "20 Bus Passengers Electrocuted in Nigeria". The New York Times. February 13, 2010. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
  6. ^ "Another victim of high tension wire dies". Daily Triumph. Triumph Publishing. 15 February 2010. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
  7. ^ Ogbu, Ahamefula (14 February 2010). "Tragedy as Powerline Cut, Kill 40 in Port Harcourt". This Day. Leaders & Company Limited. Archived from the original on 17 February 2010. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
  8. ^ "20 killed as power cable hits bus". The Press Association. 14 February 2010. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
  9. ^ "20 people killed by electrocution in Nigeria". The Associated Press. 13 February 2010. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
Retrieved from ""