More than 50 houses swept away into Cross River, Nigeria

A devastating landslide took place on Saturday, January 7, 2017, in Agwagune Community of the Nigerian Cross River State. The slide swept away more than 50 houses into the Cross River.

This area is well known for landslides and flooding. In 1997, a deadly landslide hit the same community, destroying 30 houses and killing 5 people. About 48 were injured. The Environmental Assessment Team from the Nigerian Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies analyzed the land in 1992 and stated that the entire community will be swept away.

There are no reports of casualties from the Saturday's event, but local media is reporting that many of the residents are relocating to the uncompleted structures of the on-going landslide rehabilitation center.

State Emergency Management Agency director, John Inaku, visited the community and described the situation as horrendous. He expressed fear for the safety of the residents and advised them to relocate to safer areas while awaiting government's intervention.

"The landslides have become a daily occurrence. Intense rains would wash away several meters of land. The landslide on Saturday took away a large portion of land causing panic as everyone scampered for safety," The Nigerian Tribune quoted Kennedy Orok, one of the elderly residents.

Orok warned that over 3 000 people will soon be rendered homeless as their houses will soon be swept away into the river. "The entire community is in panic as no one knows whose house would be next."

"Many people have relocated to the rehabilitation center built by the Federal Government in collaboration with the Cross River State Government but most of the houses are yet to be completed so not everybody can be accommodated there," he said.

Featured image: Map shows the approximate location of the landslide. Credit: Google