Telecom mast collapses, kills 2, injures 3 in C’River

CALABAR — TWO persons, an old man,
Adindu Fynecountry, and an 11-year-old
girl were, Wednesday, evening killed in
Odukpani, a Calabar suburb when a
telecommunications mast collapsed
following a rainstorm.
An eyewitness, Mr. Asuquo Okon, who is
a staff of Cross River State Water Board,
said the incident happened at 6p.m.
when strong winds that preceded a
downpour pulled down the mast. He said
many others were injured.
The dead and those wounded were taken
to the General Hospital, Calabar.
Another eyewitness, Mr. Nnasia Isoni,
said the spot on Ntoe Edet Oqua Street
where the mast was erected used to be a
refuse dump site, which was converted to
a pit toilet by residents of the area.
Isoni said the collapsed mast destroyed
his house including certificates and
personal effects worth over N6 million.
Secretary of Odukpani Local Government
Area, Mr. Edet Eyibio, described the
incident as unfortunate and traumatising,
especially the loss of lives and property.
According to Eyibio, remedial measures
will be taken by the council to ameliorate
the impact of the incident on the victims.