Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has expressed sadness over the death of football fans in a viewing centre in Calabar, Cross River state, and charged the appropriate authority to investigate the circumstances surrounding the ugly incident with a view to avoiding a reoccurence.

Dogara said this in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on media and publicity, Turaki Hassan on Saturday.

“It is my ardent hope that survivors are receiving adequate care, and that the state government is taking the necessary steps to avoid a recurrence of such a sad incident”, the Speaker said.

While condoling with the families of those who lost their lives as well as others that were injured in the mishap, Dogara charged the state government “to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.”

“My heart goes out to the families of football fans who died in the incident at the viewing centre,” the statement read.

“At this moment, my thoughts and prayers are with the affected families, survivors, and the government and good people of Cross River state following this sad incident.

“May God comfort all the families which have been thrown into mourning, and may the souls of the dearly departed rest in perfect peace,” he prayed.

About 30 football fans were reportedly electrocuted on Thursday night while watching a Europa League football match between Manchester United football club of England and Anderlecht FC of Belgium.

A high tension cable was said to have cut and fallen on the roof of the viewing centre, leading to the electrocution.

7 of the affected persons were said to have died while the others were taken to various hospitals in the city for medical attention.

The English club, Manchester United, had on Friday released a statement condoling with the Nigerian government and the families of those who died in the incident.