Calabar: Heavy downpour causes landslide, hospital collapse

UNICEM Hospital building in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, has been brought down by a landslide caused by hours of heavy rains.

According to reports, the UNICEM Hospital building collapsed on Thursday, August 13, after heavy rains led to the collapse of the hill on which the building stood.

Footage that was uploaded to social media platforms showed the collapsing of parts of the hospital building, which was captured by residents watching from a safe distance away.

Mekzy, a Calabar-based pharmacist, has confirmed the cause of the collapse to be a landslide caused by heavy rains.

There were no immediate reports on casualties or the extent of damage caused by the incident.

There was no official confirmation of casualties as of Friday. Although eyewitness accounts indicated that the collapse caused panic in the area, emergency authorities had yet to confirm whether anyone was trapped or injured.

Footage from the scene showed a large mass of earth sliding into the hospital complex before sections of the building collapsed, leaving behind concrete debris and exposed reinforcement rods.

The incident has renewed concerns about Calabar’s vulnerability to landslides, flooding and erosion during the rainy season. The report also noted concerns over development on unstable slopes, inadequate drainage and weak enforcement of building regulations.

The collapse is expected to trigger renewed calls for stricter building controls and proper geotechnical assessments before construction in areas prone to erosion and landslides.

As of the time of filing, neither the Cross River State Government nor emergency management agencies had issued a detailed statement on the incident.