The overhead tank of a mini-water project at Ukana Iba, Essien Udim
Local Government, Akwa Ibom State, on Thursday collapsed, killing one
person and injuring another.
Eyewitnesses told our correspondent that the water project was supposed to be inaugurated on Thursday (yesterday).
One
of the eyewitnesses, Etim Eyo, said, “The men were trying to get the
water project ready before the inauguration when the tank suddenly
collapsed killing one person and injuring another.”
Eyo added that the victims were pumping water into the tank when it collapsed.
He
said one of the victims, who climbed up the ladder to check the level
of water in the tank, fell down with the tank on the person on the
ground.
He added that the person on the ground died instantly
while the one who fell with the tank was severely injured and taken to a
hospital around the area.
He said, “Suddenly, we saw the man who
had climbed the tank falling with the tank. He crashed on the man who
was on the ground. The tank that was full of water smashed the man on
the ground.”
Residents of the community, who were thrown into
mourning, blamed the tragedy on substandard equipment used by the
contractor and called on the state government to investigate the
incident.
The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Etim Dickson, confirmed the incident.
He
said, “The Divisional Police Officer in the area told me that one
person died. The other who was critically injured is still receiving
treatment at a cottage hospital there in Ukana.”
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