The Director General of the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA), Mr. Efa Nyong, has led a rapid on-the-spot assessment following the devastating landslide that struck Ikot Anwatim Community in Calabar Municipality, claiming the lives of five persons and leaving two others injured.
The assessment, conducted on Saturday, July 11, was carried out in collaboration with the Disaster Management Unit of the Nigerian Red Cross Society.
The landslide, triggered by prolonged heavy rainfall, claimed the lives of four children and one adult. Another adult and a child sustained injuries and were promptly evacuated to a medical facility, where they are currently receiving treatment.
Accompanying the Director General during the assessment were the Disaster Management Officer of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Mr. Agbor Okim, and CR-SEMA’s Head of Relief and Rehabilitation, Mrs. Preye Obo.
The team spent more than three hours inspecting the affected area, assessing the extent of the damage, and interacting with bereaved families and other affected residents.
Addressing members of the community, Mr. Nyong expressed profound sorrow over the tragic incident and conveyed the condolences of the Cross River State Government to the bereaved families.
He described the loss of lives, particularly that of the children, as heartbreaking and assured the community that the Government would work closely with relevant agencies and humanitarian partners to provide immediate support to affected families.
According to him, the rapid assessment was undertaken to document the impact of the disaster and provide the necessary information to guide humanitarian intervention, recovery efforts, and long-term disaster risk reduction measures.
Mr. Nyong also urged residents of landslide- and erosion-prone communities to remain vigilant, promptly report signs of land movement or ground cracks, and cooperate with relevant authorities whenever evacuation becomes necessary.
The CR-SEMA Director General further emphasized the importance of sustained public awareness on disaster preparedness, noting that climate-related disasters are becoming more frequent and require collective action by Government, stakeholders, and local communities.
Speaking on behalf of the affected residents, Mr. Bassey Patrick commended CR-SEMA and its partners for their swift response despite the difficult circumstances. He appealed to Government and humanitarian organizations to provide emergency relief and other forms of assistance to families affected by the disaster.
Following the assessment, the team recommended the immediate provision of humanitarian assistance to affected households, sustained medical care for the injured, and a comprehensive geotechnical assessment to determine the stability of the surrounding terrain.
The team also advocated intensified community sensitization on landslide and erosion risks, as well as the possible relocation of residents living in highly vulnerable areas to safer locations to prevent future occurrences.
