Three people are feared dead following the collapse of a telecommunications mast and a signage pole within the Mile 3 area of Port Harcourt.
It was gathered that the telecoms mast fell during heavy rain around Mile 3-Oroworukwo-Nkpolu area of Diobu.
A 15-year-old girl and a 45-year-old man simply identified as coach are among the victims of the unfortunate disaster.
An eyewitness said that the telecommunications mast fell on the signage pole.
According to him, “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.
“We don’t just understand how the thing happened. Everthing was very fast.”
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of the Rivers state Signage and Advertising Agency, Chukwudi Dimkpa said the signage pole fell because its base was weak.
He stated this when he visited the scene of the disaster.
Dimkpa noted that many signage poles in Port Harcourt were not properly maintained, just as he said effort would be will be intensified to inspect other signage poles in the state.
“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 actions.”
