Nigeria, Abuja: The transformer fire that broke out over the past weekend at Angwuar Tiv, a sprawling shanty settlement in Lugbe on the outskirts of the Nigerian capital Abuja, has thus far claimed 12 lives.

When the transformer of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) caught fire, it immediately claimed at least five victims, but the death toll has risen in the meantime, reports Today.

According to an eyewitness residing close to the transformer, the connection to the transformer exploded, apparently due to overloading causing the live and earth wires to join.

As a result, many homes served by the transformer witnessed a sudden power surge that destroyed electrical and electronic equipment, and the affected victims were most probably trying to put off their electrical and electronic devices.

Although there are no reports on what might have caused the incident, Today reports that the community had written several letters to AEDC to warn of the need to install another transformer and carry out proper wiring of the area to ease the load on the existing transformer.

Source: Today