Port Harcourt bus electrocution

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On 13 February 2010 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, eleven people were killed when a power cable fell on them.

At approximately 08:00 local time (UTC+1) on 13 February 2010,^[1] a road 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]