Location Nigeria Total number of deaths 11 | Date 13 February 2010 | |
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 when a 33 kilovolt electric cable snapped, striking two Nissan Urvan buses, and electrocuted many of the occupants. The incident occurred after a severe thunderstorm; the cable was believed to have been brought down by heavy rainfall.
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Casualties
The majority of the casualties were bus passengers, though several passers-by were also struck. 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.
Aftermath
There were conflicting reports on the death toll in the immediate aftermath of the incident. Eyewitnesses reported seeing as many as 40 bodies, and several sources initially put the death toll at 20. 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".
The state government has ordered a report from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria about why the cable was still live when it broke. 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."