Plateau power surge electrocutes 10, burns 25 shops

About 10 persons were killed and 25 shops and houses razed after an early morning power-surge-induced inferno tore through the sleepy neighbourhood of Kabong in Gada Buy area of the Jos North local government area of Plateau State.

Among the victims were a man, his wife and child..

It was gathered that the incident, which occurred around 2 am on Saturday, was triggered when one of the high tension wires snapped and fell on a transformer serving the neighbouring.

The subsequent explosion sent a shockwave said to have spread to nearby shops and residential apartments, torching every available item within reach, especially electronic gadgets like sound systems, fridges, fans and air conditioners.

Eyewitness said the explosion sent some colours up the sky as goods and personal items went up in flames.

While some of the victims died on the spot, our correspondent gathered that others gave up the ghost at the Bingham University Teaching Hospital (Jankwano) where they were rushed to.

Police Public Relations Officer, Alfred Alabo, who confirmed the incident, said that six persons were killed.

He said it was suspected to have been caused by a power surge.

Alabo said, “We are carrying out investigation to know the real cause of the incident, but we suspect that it must have been caused by a power surge.”

Nation