Telecom Mast Kills Two People In Cross River

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.