Three persons, including two siblings have been feared dead
on Monday after a telecommunications
mast and a signage pole fell around the Mile Three area of Port Harcourt, the
Rivers State capital following fierce rainfall that also destroyed fences and
damaged buildings.
Two relatives were killed and while their mother escaped
unhurt when the telecoms mast fell from the fenced compound of the University
of Port Harcourt Continuing Education Centre, into Community Secondary School
in the Mile Three-Oroworukwo-Nkpolu area of the state capital.
Mother of the two children, a 45- year old Eucharia, told
newsmen in Port Harcourt, that the mast
fell on a signage pole which in turn fell on her 15 year old daughter and her
son, killing them instantly.
It was gathered that the third victim, a man known as Coach,
was said to be unconscious when the signage poll fell, but later died while
being rushed to the hospital
According to an eyewitness, “We were just on the road before
the mast fell down. The thing affected one other sign board and both of them
hit the girl. The girl was returning from an errand the mother sent her. The
signboard also hit coachee on his head.”
Commenting on the accident, the Managing Director of the
Rivers state Signage and Advertising Agency, Chukwudi Dimkpa, said the signage
pole fell because it had a weak base instead of a more fortified one.
Dimkpa, who spoke when he visited the scene of the disaster,
noted that many signage poles in Port Harcourt were not properly maintained,
and pledged to intensify efforts to inspect other signage poles in the state.
He said, “Almost all the practitioners are aware of what it
means for a pole to collapse. We have been harping on proper maintenance.
“It is unfortunate that this incident happened when the rain
was falling. We sympathize with the families of those that lost their loved
ones. We will investigate what actually happened to that signage pole and take
the necessary act.
