Electrical accident kills several fans watching United match in Nigeria

by Agence France-Presse
Jason Cairnduff / Reuters

Lagos - At least seven football fans were killed and 11 injured when an electric cable fell on a building where they were watching a Europa League match, Nigerian police said Friday.

The incident happened in the southern port city of Calabar on Thursday during a quarter-final between Manchester United and RSC Anderlecht being shown on satellite television, the police said.

"We received a report of the incident around 10:00 p.m. and on getting there were able to recover the bodies of seven people who had been electrocuted when a high tension cable fell on them," Cross River state police spokeswoman Irene Ugbo told AFP.

"Eleven other fans who were injured were rushed to the hospital, with one in a critical condition," she said.

Local media said up to 30 fans were feared dead in the incident.

Ugbo ruled out any foul play in the tragedy.

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