A hospital in Calabar, Cross River State, has partially collapsed after a landslide hit the area following persistent heavy rainfall.
The incident occurred on Thursday after the landslide undermined sections of the hospital, located near Duke Town Drive/Anansa Road in the Big Qua Town/Marina area of the Cross River capital.
Videos circulating on social media show parts of the hospital damaged by the landslide, raising concerns about the safety of residents and other buildings in the affected area.
The hospital, known as the UNICEM Clinic, was originally established to serve workers and residents associated with the United Cement Company of Nigeria (UNICEM).
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The hospital’s collapse comes amid persistent rainfall and worsening erosion in parts of Calabar, where landslides have threatened buildings and other infrastructure.
‘Serious natural disaster’
The Cross River State Government attributed the hospital collapse to what it described as a “serious natural disaster” that had persisted in the area for about two weeks.
The Commissioner for Information, Ekpenyong Cobham, told PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday that the landslide affected other buildings besides the hospital.
“There’s a serious natural disaster in the area, leading to the collapse of the hospital and other buildings. The landslide has been persistent in the area for the past two weeks,” Mr Cobham said.
The commissioner said he had not received any report of fatalities from the disaster.
He added that state and federal emergency agencies were working together to respond to the situation and provide assistance to those affected.
The Cross River State Government is working with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to assess the extent of the damage and address the needs of affected residents.
Recurring landslides
The hospital collapse adds to concerns over recurring landslides and erosion in Cross River, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall.
PREMIUM TIMES had reported that at least five people were killed in a landslide in the state as heavy rains triggered flooding and slope failures in parts of Nigeria.
The latest incident also comes despite billions of naira budgeted by the Cross River State Government over the years for erosion control and related interventions.
PREMIUM TIMES previously reported how recurring deadly landslides have raised questions over the effectiveness of erosion-control projects and the state’s preparedness to protect vulnerable communities.