The Cross River State Police Command on Friday confirmed seven people dead and 11 hospitalised in Thursday’s electrocution that occurred while some football fans were watching the Manchester United and Anderlecth game at a television viewing centre.The incident happened at around 9.30pm at Nyagasang area of Atimbo in Calabar Municipal Local Government Area of the state.
Hafiz Inuwa, the state Commissioner of Police, gave the numbers at a news conference on Friday in Calabar.
Inuwa said the briefing became necessary following some reports in some national dailies and online blogs that over 30 persons died in the tragic incident.
Inuwa said: “To put the record straight, 18 persons were affected by the incident and taken to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.
“From the records available to us, seven people died on arrival, 10 are in the emergency ward of the hospital, while one victim is currently at the intensive care unit of the same hospital.
“The false reports out there are alarming.
“This press conference will put an end to the rumours out there that over 30 persons died.
“People should stop spreading falsehood in sensitive issues like this.
“The earlier reports that over 30 persons died and about 50 escaped deaths is false.”
A check by a NAN correspondent at the State General Hospital and some private medical centres showed that no victim of the incident was taken to them except UCTH.
Eyewitnesses had told NAN that two separate blasts from electrical installations occurred around the centre before a live high tension cable fell on the zinc makeshift structure where many of the fans were watching the Europa League match.