No fewer than 35 persons watching the Europa League football match between Manchester United and Anderlecht perished in Calabar on Thursday evening.
A survivor told one of our correspondents that a transformer near the viewing centre located in the Iyang - Esu area of the Calabar Municipal Local Government Area exploded during the match and this caused a high -tension cable to drop on the viewing centre .
The survivor said amid sobs, “ It happened during the match between Manchester United and Anderlecht . I heard a deafening bang . I rushed out to see what was happening . When I turned back to go inside the viewing centre , I saw a cable coming down on the centre and this electrocuted the viewers in the hall .
“ It was a horrible sight to behold . I wish I didn’ t come out to watch the match . Come to think of it, I have DStv at home but I enjoy watching matches at viewing centres. I could have been dead. I can ’t believe that the people I was chatting and joking with a few minutes ago are all gone in a most anguishing way . This world is vain. ”
A resident , who spoke on condition of anonymity, said more than eighty persons were in the hall when the cable came down .
The resident said , “The whole thing happened within a minute or two. It happened about 9 : 48 pm. Those that died have been taken to the mortuary . A few that survived have been taken to hospitals . ”
The Police Public Relations Officer , Cross River State Command , Irene Ugbo, confirmed the incident .
She said the number of casualties would be confirmed on Friday (today ) .

Oh God,my the spirit of united Trinity give their families the fortitude to bear the lost