By Abasi Ita
Residents of Calabar, the Cross River State capital, are living in fear as devastating floods and landslides, which have already claimed five lives and swept away houses and sections of roads, continue to wreak havoc across the city.
The disaster, triggered by weeks of torrential rainfall, has left tales of agony and despair in its wake, destroying lives, property and sources of livelihood.
”The situation worsened on Thursday morning as residents of Arab and Atimbo communities in Calabar Municipality Local Government Area of Cross River State counted their losses after torrential rainfall triggered fresh flooding that submerged homes and destroyed property estimated at over N50 million.”
The downpour, which lasted several hours, left more than 100 houses under water, forcing residents to flee their homes while struggling to salvage family members and personal belongings.
Items destroyed by the flood included furniture, clothing, books, certificates, kitchen utensils, air conditioners, fans, sound systems and other valuables.
The disaster also affected several parts of the state capital, including Muritala Mohammed Highway by Zone Six, the Mobil axis through MCC to WAPI Junction, the Federal Secretariat area, Agro Feed to Eight Miles Junction and the Effio Ette Roundabout, causing severe traffic disruptions and hardship for commuters.
Other hard hit areas included the University of Cross River State staff quarters, Yellow Duke, Atamunu, Mount Zion and several parts of Calabar South.
Chairman of Arab community, Ntufam Alphonsus Alphonsus, who sympathised with victims, lamented that repeated appeals to relevant authorities to address the perennial flooding had yielded little result.
He estimated the losses suffered by residents at over N50 million and expressed disappointment over what he described as government inaction despite years of complaints.
”We really sympathise with families who have lost their properties today because of the heavy rainfall. The community leadership has done everything within its power to engage the government to come and do something here in Arab, but that has not materialised,” he said.
According to him, more than 100 houses were affected by the flood, adding that residents had continued to live at the mercy of nature because of the absence of lasting intervention.
One of the victims, Mr Richard Fomba, a furniture maker, recounted how his family narrowly escaped tragedy after floodwaters suddenly entered his home.
”Water entered even up to the room of my children and it was God who made my wife notice it early and move them to safety,” he said.
Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has called for renewed public enlightenment on proper waste disposal following the flooding that submerged communities and reportedly claimed lives in parts of Calabar.
The agency made the call during a joint assessment of affected communities in Calabar Municipality and Calabar South, blaming the recurring floods on indiscriminate waste disposal, poor town planning and unchecked urban development.
According to NEMA, the dumping of plastics and other non biodegradable materials into drainage channels has obstructed the free flow of storm water, worsening the flood situation across the city.
The agency also identified the construction of buildings on natural waterways and floodplains as major factors responsible for the perennial flooding experienced in the state.
Officials noted that several structures had been erected in unapproved locations, increasing the vulnerability of residents to flood disasters.
The Cross River State Ministry of Environment similarly attributed the crisis to years of poor environmental practices and unplanned development.
To tackle the problem, NEMA said it would intensify sensitisation campaigns and environmental sanitation programmes across the state’s 18 local government areas, urging residents to make use of designated waste disposal points and desist from dumping refuse into drains and waterways.
Officials of NEMA and the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, disclosed that assessments were ongoing to determine the extent of damage caused by the flooding and facilitate relief interventions for affected communities.
The Ministry of Works and Infrastructure has also commenced inspections of critical drainage channels, including the 1.5 kilometre stretch near the University of Cross River State, with a view to clearing blocked waterways and improving drainage infrastructure.
The latest flood disaster has renewed calls for stricter environmental regulations, improved urban planning and sustained public enlightenment to address the recurring menace in Calabar.