High-tension cable kills one, destroys houses in Calabar

High tension electric cable has electrocuted a young man, simply identified as Joseph, popularly known as Man of God in Calabar South local government area of Cross River State.

The electrocution affected two other persons while six houses and other properties worth several millions of naira were razed down.

This is the third time in one year such incident is happening. The incident, which happened at about 7.30pm, was said to have injured two persons at No. 17 Umo Orok Lane in the Calabar-South axis of the metropolis.

On April 20, 2017, at least eight persons died at a football viewing centre in Nyaghassang community in Calabar Municipality when a high-tension cable fell on the roof of centre.

Again on October 24 another high-tension cable fell on the roof of a residential building along Adak Uko Street in Calabar-South and burnt down a house while two persons were electrocuted.

It was learnt that the latest disaster was as a result of high voltage.

An eyewitness, Uche Kalu, said the effect of the high voltage also spread from No. 17 to 22 of the same lane, affecting no fewer than six houses and in the process killing a middle-aged businessman simply identified as Joseph.

It was learnt that one of the tenants of an affected building lost N580, 000 to the inferno.

Kalu said his wife raised the alarm at about 6.30pm when she observed sparks from the high-tension cable.

“The light went off but at about 7.30pm, the electricity was restored. The spark continued but the voltage was too high and before we knew it, the small transformer near my wife’s shop blew and wire fell and current started flowing through everything that had life in that vicinity.

“The fire started burning the houses one after the other. I understand that Joseph had tried to disconnect the appliances in his house when he was electrocuted. He died. I understand that he (Joseph) had planned to get married in January before his life was cut shut by electricity,” he said.

A survivor and mother of three, Patience, said the high-tension cable almost fell on her.

“I am in great pain, but I am glad that I survived it. I learnt that Joseph died, it is so sad,” she said.