Torrential Rain Collapses Building, Kills Father, Four Children in Calabar
A father and his four children have died after a residential building collapsed following days of torrential rainfall in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
The tragic incident occurred on Friday night at Ikot Anwatim in the Ikot Ansa area on the outskirts of the city after three consecutive days of heavy rainfall that left several communities flooded.
An eyewitness, who identified herself simply as Asa, said neighbours woke up on Saturday to the heartbreaking scene and immediately began rescue efforts, recovering the victims’ bodies from the rubble.
“The sight was horrifying. Neighbours came out this morning to remove the bodies from under the debris. It was too much for me to bear, so I had to leave,” she said.
The persistent downpour has caused widespread flooding across several parts of Calabar, including Uwanse, Mayne Avenue, Palm Street, Murtala Mohammed Highway and the Eight Miles axis, disrupting movement and commercial activities.
Residents said the flooding has severely affected daily life, with many roads becoming impassable and economic activities, particularly nightlife, grinding to a halt.
A resident, Ubong, lamented the intensity of the rainfall, saying, “This year’s rain has been terrible. I was caught in it yesterday. If I didn’t have the strength to pull through, the flood would have swept me away.”
Another resident, Daniel Osum, said many motorists had opted to remain indoors for fear of being trapped or swept away by floodwaters.
“People only drive out when they are certain they can reach their destination safely. With the level of flooding across the city, both motorists and their vehicles are at risk of being carried away by the flood,” he said.
The latest tragedy has heightened concerns over the impact of the prolonged rainfall on lives and property, with residents calling for urgent government intervention to improve drainage infrastructure and mitigate flooding across the city.