Nigerian bus electrocutions

The Nigerian bus electrocution was a road traffic incident in which eleven people were killed in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. 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 was believed to 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 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). http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201002144295182. Retrieved 14 February 2010. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Chukwurah, Henry (14 February 2010). "Black Saturday". Sunday Sun (The Sun Publishing Ltd). http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/feb/14/national-14-02-2010-03.htm. Retrieved 14 February 2010. 
3. ^ "20 dead in Nigeria bus tragedy". Scotland On Sunday (Johnston Press). 14 February 2010. http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/world/20-dead-in-Nigeria-bus.6070821.jp. Retrieved 14 February 2010. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "Ten people killed as power cable falls on Nigeria bus". BBC News (BBC). 13 February 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8514694.stm. Retrieved 14 February 2010. 
5. ^ "20 Bus Passengers Electrocuted in Nigeria". The New York Times (The New York Times Company). February 13, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/14/world/africa/14nigeria.html. Retrieved 14 February 2010. 
6. ^ "Another victim of high tension wire dies". Daily Triumph (Triumph Publishing). 15 February 2010. http://www.triumphnewspapers.com/another1522010.html. Retrieved 15 February 2010. 
7. ^ Ogbu, Ahamefula (14 February 2010). "Tragedy as Powerline Cut, Kill 40 in Port Harcourt". This Day (Leaders & Company Limited). http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=166439. Retrieved 14 February 2010. 
8. ^ "20 killed as power cable hits bus". The Press Association. 14 February 2010. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5h3QQ3n-G80emOBjDbV1xYmbWWVMw. Retrieved 14 February 2010. 
9. ^ "20 people killed by electrocution in Nigeria". The Associated Press. 13 February 2010. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gnw8SPMUiH1kaPZ6nse9kwlgWxRgD9DRE0300. Retrieved 14 February 2010.