CR-SEMA Urges Residents To Leave High-Risk Areas After Cross River Landslide Kills 5

The Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA) has urged residents living in landslide- and erosion-prone communities to relocate from high-risk areas following a landslide that killed five people in Ikot Anwatim Community, Calabar Municipality.

The disaster struck after 48 hours of heavy rainfall triggered a landslide that destroyed two houses. Four children and one adult were killed, while two other residents sustained injuries and are receiving treatment.

The exercise was led by the agency’s Director-General, Mr. Efa Nyong, alongside officials of the Disaster Management Unit of the Nigerian Red Cross Society.

During the visit, Nyong conveyed the condolences of the Cross River State Government to the bereaved families, describing the deaths, particularly those of the four children, as heartbreaking.

He assured affected families of government support through humanitarian interventions and said the assessment would help determine the full impact of the disaster to guide emergency assistance and long-term disaster risk reduction measures.

Nyong stressed the need for residents in vulnerable communities to relocate to safer locations to prevent further loss of lives.

“I also use this opportunity to urge residents in landslide- and erosion-prone communities to report land cracks, remain vigilant and comply with evacuation directives when necessary,” he said.

He added that the assessment would provide critical data to support government decisions on emergency relief and long-term strategies to reduce disaster risks.

The assessment team also recommended immediate humanitarian assistance for affected families, continued medical care for the injured and a comprehensive geotechnical assessment of the affected terrain.

Nyong noted that climate-related disasters are becoming more frequent and called for collective action to strengthen disaster preparedness, reaffirming CR-SEMA’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.

An affected resident, Mr. Bassey Patrick, commended the emergency response team for its prompt intervention and appealed for urgent assistance, saying affected families had lost loved ones and were struggling to recover from the tragedy.

CR-SEMA, in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), had earlier assessed flood-affected communities in Calabar Municipality and Calabar South Local Government Areas.