*Gov Ayade mourns victims

At least 30 persons died of electrocution on Thursday night in Calabar while watching the Europa Football League match between Manchester United and Anderlecht.

Twenty eight of the victims died on the spot while two died in the hospital. About 50 others were injured.

The incident happened at around 9.30 pm at Nyagasang area of Atimbo in Calabar Municipality local government area of the state.

NAN learnt the electrocution of the victims happened when a nearby transformer exploded twice during the match. The second time, the high tension wire snapped and dropped on the viewing centre built with zinc.

An eye witness told NAN that when the transformer exploded the first time, it brought so much panic, with dozens of people leaving the centre.

“We were all inside watching the match when we heard the first explosion from the transformer; the heavy sound caused panic because some people shouted and ran out.

“After a while, we came back into the viewing centre to continue with the match. Shortly, we heard another heavy sound and when some people tried to run away from the centre, they were affected.

“Over 50 of us escaped death yesterday because we were standing by the door watching the game’’, he said.

A NAN Correspondent who visited the viewing centre said it was built with zinc and part of it was burnt by the cable that fell on it. Inside, the installed fans and the television screen were all burnt.

ASP Irene Ugbo, the State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the incident to NAN in an interview.

“We have heard of the incident, some of the people were rushed to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital for treatment.”

The Chief Medical Director of the hospital said a statement would be released in a few hours

Gov. Ayade mourns victims of Calabar viewing centre tragedy

In the meantime, Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River has described the Calabar development as tragic and horrifying.

The governor said this in a statement issued by Mr Christian Ita, his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Chief Press Secretary in Calabar on Friday.

Ayade also said it was heart wrenching that the lives of the young men were lost through electrocution.

“The incident marks a dark chapter in the life of the state where the precious lives of football lovers have been lost.

“At this point in time, it is sad to know that the victims lost their lives at a viewing centre where they usually converge, at their leisure time to watch their matches’’, Ayade said.

While commiserating with the families of the victims of the tragedy, the governor promised that the state government would look into the likely cause of the incident to preventing reoccurrence.

No fewer than 30 persons died on Thursday night in Calabar at a viewing centre while watching the Europa Football League match between Manchester United and Anderlecht.

The incident happened at about 9.30 p.m at Nyagasang area of Atimbo in Calabar Municipality Local Government Area of the state.