Five persons, including four children, have died after landslides triggered by 48 hours of heavy rainfall devastated Ikot Anwatim Community, Calabar Municipality, Cross River. The landslides also destroyed two houses and injured two other residents, according to the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA).
The CR-SEMA confirmed the casualties during a rapid assessment team’s visit to the affected community on Saturday July 11. The assessment team was led by CR-SEMA Director-General, Mr Efa Nyong, alongside officials from the Disaster Management Unit of the Nigerian Red Cross Society.
Addressing bereaved families and survivors, Nyong conveyed the Cross River Government’s condolences and sympathised with victims over the tragic incident. He described the deaths as heartbreaking and assured affected families of government support through humanitarian interventions.
He urged residents of landslide and erosion-prone communities to promptly report land cracks, remain vigilant and obey evacuation directives whenever necessary. He stressed that climate-related disasters were becoming more frequent, requiring sustained public awareness and stronger collaboration between government and communities.
The assessment team recommended immediate humanitarian assistance for affected families and sustained medical care for injured victims. It also called for a comprehensive geotechnical assessment of the affected terrain to determine long-term safety and appropriate mitigation measures.
The team further advocated intensified public sensitisation on landslide risks and possible relocation of residents living in high-risk areas as heavy rainfall persisted.
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