Heavy rains have prompted a landslip that has caused the collapse of a hospital facility in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State.
The affected edifice, known as UNICEM Hospital, apparently broke way yesterday, Thursday, August 13, after hours of torrential rain, destabilised the hillside on which it was built, writes Vanguard.
Videos circulating on social media seemed to show sections of the hospital crumbling as occupants observed from a safe distance. One of the films published on X by a Calabar-based chemist, Mekzy, blamed the tragedy on a landslip caused by the severe downpour.
There has been no official confirmation of casualties thus far. Emergency officials have not yet confirmed whether anyone was trapped or hurt, but witnesses said the fall sparked panic in the vicinity.
Video from the incident showed a massive mass of dirt sliding into the hospital complex before parts of the building fell, leaving concrete debris and exposed reinforcement rods.
The tragedy has raised fears that Calabar is prone to flooding, landslides and erosion during the rainy season.
It also flagged concerns over growth on hazardous slopes, poor drainage and limited enforcement of building laws.
The fall is expected to prompt further calls for tighter building codes and thorough geotechnical investigations before development in erosion or landslide-prone locations.
Neither the Cross River State Government nor emergency management authorities had published a full comment on the incident at the time of filing.
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