Calabar, Nigeria floods and landslides kill 10, devastate homes

Heavy rains in Calabar, Cross River State, triggered severe flooding and landslides that have killed at least ten people and destroyed numerous homes. Among the victims were four siblings and their father who were buried by a landslide in Ikot Anwatim, a man who drowned on Elijah Henshaw Street, a woman who watched her one‑year‑old son swept away on Webber Street, and two children who drowned at Otop Abasi. In the Diamond Hill area, houses were swept into the sea, damaging the road to the Naval Base and Calabar Jetty.

Local residents of the Obutong community attribute the landslide to the wrath of the sea goddess Anansa and have called for traditional rites alongside engineering work. Youth leader Emmanuel Okon urged the federal and state governments to intervene urgently and warned that containers and heavy vehicles trapped on the damaged road exacerbate the crisis. State Commissioner for Environment Bassey Mensah described the event as a natural occurrence requiring technical measures such as diverting water to reduce pressure, noting the need for substantial funding. Deputy Governor Peter Odey appealed for federal assistance, stating the disaster exceeds the state’s capacity. The National Emergency Management Agency has inspected the site, while Conservator General Dr. Ibrahim Goni warned that deforestation is worsening the floods and called for environmental restoration.