347 Displaced by Mudslide, Flooding in Cross River, SEMA Raises Alarm

At least 347 people were displaced by mudslides and flooding triggered by torrential rainfall across parts of Cross River State in August, the State Emergency Management Agency has disclosed.

The Director-General of Cross River SEMA, Efa Nyong, gave the figure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Calabar on Tuesday, saying 167 people were rendered homeless by a mudslide in Calabar.

Another 180 internally displaced persons were affected by flooding in the state’s Central Senatorial District, according to the agency.

Nyong said the affected residents were currently being accommodated at different locations in Calabar and communities across the Central Senatorial District, as authorities work to stabilise their situation.

The SEMA boss, who assumed office on July 14, said the disasters highlighted the growing risks facing communities across the state and stressed the need for residents to take preventive measures.

He identified both natural occurrences and human activities as contributing factors, particularly indiscriminate waste disposal. According to him, refuse dumped in one location can obstruct drainage and contribute to flooding several kilometres away.

Nyong said SEMA had begun sensitisation campaigns in communities across the Southern and Central Senatorial Districts and would extend the exercise to the Northern Senatorial District. He added that a wider state campaign would use billboards, radio advertisements and town criers to educate residents on disaster prevention.

He also warned residents about fire outbreaks, urging them to switch off electrical appliances when not in use, replace faulty cables and bulbs and upgrade household wiring where necessary to ensure electrical systems can safely handle their loads.

Nyong said disaster response in the state operates through a coordinated system beginning at the local government level. Local Emergency Management Committees serve as the first responders, while cases beyond their capacity are escalated to SEMA and, where necessary, the National Emergency Management Agency.

He identified the Nigerian Red Cross Society as a key partner in providing temporary accommodation and assistance to displaced residents. SEMA is also sheltering some victims at its office, while others are being accommodated at Red Cross facilities.

The SEMA chief said the state government, individuals and private organisations had provided relief materials and financial support to affected residents. He added that the immediate priority was to help victims regain stability and either return to their communities or secure alternative accommodation.