Persistent torrential rains in Cross River State have claimed another life and left several families homeless after a fresh landslide struck Boro Pit in Satellite Town, Calabar, while residents of Calabar South Local Government Area also discovered a lifeless body trapped inside a flooded drainage.

The latest incidents have heightened fears over the worsening impact of the ongoing rainy season, barely days after another landslide claimed lives in parts of the state.

The landslide occurred at Boro Pit, Satellite Town, destroying two residential buildings, killing one person and displacing several families. Occupants of the affected houses, who escaped the collapse, lost valuables worth millions of naira to the disaster.

During the Nigerian Tribune’s visit to the scene, the Director-General of the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA), Mr. Efa Nyong, described the incident as unfortunate and expressed condolences to the bereaved family.

Nyong said the agency’s visit was aimed at obtaining first-hand information ahead of a comprehensive damage and needs assessment that will guide government intervention.

“It is sad that emergency calls often come after disasters have occurred instead of before preventable incidents,” he said.

He assured affected residents that the government will carry out a thorough assessment of the damage and provide humanitarian assistance based on identified needs.

He added that the government remains committed to strengthening disaster preparedness and reducing the recurring impact of landslides and flooding in vulnerable communities in the state.

He stressed that government was prioritising proactive disaster risk reduction measures to minimise future emergencies, urging residents living in flood- and landslide-prone areas to remain vigilant and promptly report signs of danger to relevant authorities.

Nyong advised residents to strictly comply with safety advisories issued by emergency agencies, particularly as the state experiences the peak of the rainy season.

He reaffirmed CR-SEMA’s commitment to protecting lives and property through timely emergency response, public awareness campaigns and preventive interventions.

Meanwhile, panic gripped residents of Elijah Henshaw Street, off Palm Street, in Calabar South after a decomposing body was discovered in the flooded water channel last Friday.

Residents said the body was first seen floating on the channel before it became lodged against a large stone, drawing crowds of frightened onlookers who kept their distance.

Many residents expressed fear of attempting to recover the corpse, citing concerns about possible police investigations.

The residents appealed to the state Ministry of Environment, the Calabar Urban Development Authority (CUDA) and other emergency response agencies to immediately evacuate the body and investigate the circumstances surrounding the death.

The twin incidents have renewed concerns over the increasing vulnerability of Calabar to flooding and landslides, following prolonged rainfall, with residents calling for improved drainage infrastructure, stricter enforcement against building on hazardous locations and more proactive emergency response measures to prevent further loss of lives and property. (Nigerian Tribune)

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