At approximately 08:00 local time (UTC+1) on 13 February 2010,[1]aroad traffic incident in occurred in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, in which eleven people were killed. A 33 kilovolt electric cable snapped,[2] striking two Nissan Urvan buses,[1] and electrocuting 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]
The majority of the casualties were bus passengers, though several passers-by were also struck.[5] The death toll is eleven; a further eleven having been hospitalised. Ten of the victims died in the incident or its immediate aftermath; the eleventh died in hospital on 14 February.[6]
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]
^ abChukwurah, Henry (14 February 2010). "Black Saturday". Sunday Sun. The Sun Publishing Ltd. Archived from the original on 1 March 2010. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
