Flood Ravages Calabar Communities, Residents Count Over ₦27m Losses

By Paul Joseph

Residents of the Arab and Atimbo communities in Calabar Municipality, Cross River State, are calling for urgent government intervention after a torrential downpour triggered massive flooding that destroyed properties estimated at more than ₦27 million.

The flood, which followed hours of heavy rainfall on Thursday, submerged over 100 houses, forcing families to flee their homes while struggling to rescue children and salvage personal belongings from the rapidly rising waters.

Victims described the incident as one of the worst in recent years, saying the flood left many households stranded for hours and caused extensive damage to homes and valuables.

Chairman of the Arab Community, Ntufam Alphonsus Alphonsus, sympathised with affected residents and blamed the recurring disaster on the failure to address longstanding drainage challenges in the area.

According to him, the community has repeatedly appealed to the government to implement permanent flood-control measures, but those requests have not received the needed attention.

He disclosed that preliminary assessments indicated that more than 100 homes were affected, with property losses already exceeding ₦27 million.

One of the victims, furniture maker Richard Fomba, recounted how his family narrowly escaped tragedy after floodwater entered his children’s bedroom.

He said his wife quickly moved the children to safety after noticing the water level rising, adding that what began as an ordinary rainfall rapidly turned into a disaster as floodwater spread through every room in the house.

Items reportedly destroyed include furniture, electrical appliances, clothing, educational certificates, books, kitchen utensils, air conditioners, sound systems and other household possessions.

The affected residents appealed to the Cross River State Government to construct effective drainage systems and implement lasting flood-mitigation projects to prevent a recurrence.

They also urged the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to provide immediate relief materials and humanitarian assistance to families displaced by the flooding.