CALABAR – The recent landslide that claimed the lives of five people in Ikot Anwatim, Calabar Municipality, has once again exposed the growing danger facing hundreds of families living in landslide- and erosion-prone communities across Cross River State. Despite repeated warnings from emergency authorities, many residents remain in high-risk areas due to poverty, lack of alternative housing, and limited awareness of the looming danger.
The tragic incident occurred after nearly 48 hours of heavy rainfall triggered a massive landslide that buried two residential buildings. Five persons, including four children and one adult, lost their lives, while two others sustained injuries. The disaster left residents in shock and renewed calls for urgent action to prevent similar tragedies in vulnerable communities.
Following the incident, the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA), led by its Director-General, Mr. Efa Nyong, visited the affected community alongside officials of the Nigerian Red Cross Society to assess the extent of the damage and provide immediate support to victims and their families.
During the visit, Nyong urged residents occupying hillsides, erosion corridors, and other unstable locations to relocate immediately to safer areas. He warned that with the rainy season intensifying, communities located on weak slopes remain at risk of further landslides and flooding if precautionary measures are ignored.
He also expressed the condolences of the Cross River State Government to the bereaved families, describing the loss of lives—particularly the deaths of four children—as heartbreaking. According to him, the assessment carried out by CR-SEMA will help guide emergency relief efforts and long-term measures aimed at reducing the impact of natural disasters across the state.
The latest tragedy has raised fresh concerns about disaster preparedness in Cross River, where several communities continue to battle erosion, flooding, and unstable terrain during the rainy season. Residents and stakeholders have called for stronger environmental protection, improved drainage systems, stricter development control in high-risk areas, and sustained public awareness campaigns to reduce the risk of future disasters.
As emergency officials continue to monitor weather conditions, residents have been advised to remain vigilant and promptly report signs of soil movement, deep cracks, or flooding to relevant authorities before another preventable tragedy occurs.
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