‎Residents living in landslide and erosion-prone communities have been urged to report land cracks early, remain vigilant and follow evacuation instructions whenever necessary, following a deadly landslide in Cross River State.

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‎The warning was issued by the Director-General of the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA), Mr Efa Nyong, who said climate-related disasters were becoming more frequent and required sustained public awareness and stronger collaboration between government agencies and communities.

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‎Five people, including four children, died after landslides triggered by 48 hours of heavy rainfall devastated Ikot Anwatim Community in Calabar Municipality.

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‎The disaster also destroyed two houses and injured two residents, according to CR-SEMA, which confirmed the casualties during the launch of a rapid assessment of the affected area on Saturday.

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‎The assessment team, led by Nyong alongside officials from the Disaster Management Unit of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, visited the community to evaluate the impact and identify urgent needs.

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‎Addressing bereaved families and survivors, Nyong expressed the Cross River Government’s condolences, describing the loss of the children as heartbreaking.

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‎He said the assessment would provide evidence to guide emergency assistance and long-term disaster risk reduction measures.

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‎“This assessment will document the disaster’s impact to guide government decisions on emergency assistance and long-term disaster risk reduction,” Nyong said.

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‎The CR-SEMA director said early reporting of warning signs, including visible land cracks, could help communities respond faster and reduce the risk of further casualties.

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‎He added that the increasing frequency of climate-related disasters highlights the importance of community preparedness, environmental awareness and coordinated action.

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

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‎It also called for stronger public sensitisation on landslide risks and possible relocation of residents in high-risk areas as rainfall continues.

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‎An affected resident, Mr Bassey Patrick, praised the response team for reaching the community despite challenging conditions and appealed for urgent assistance for displaced families struggling to recover from the tragedy.

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