Five dead, including four children, in Cross River landslide

Five people, including four children, died in Ikot Anwatim Community, Calabar Municipality, Cross River, following landslides caused by 48 hours of heavy rainfall. The landslides also destroyed two houses and injured two residents, according to the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency CR-SEMA. CR-SEMA Director-General, Mr Efa Nyong, led an assessment team to the affected community, conveying the Cross River Government’s condolences and assuring victims of support through humanitarian interventions. Nyong emphasized the increasing frequency of climate-related disasters and urged residents in prone areas to report land cracks and obey evacuation directives. The assessment team recommended immediate humanitarian assistance, sustained medical care for the injured, a comprehensive geotechnical assessment, and intensified public sensitization on landslide risks, including potential relocation for those in high-risk areas. An affected resident, Mr Bassey Patrick, commended the prompt response and appealed for urgent emergency assistance for the bereaved and displaced families.