A grieving mother, Mrs. Mercy Edu, has recounted the devastating loss of four of her seven children after a landslide triggered by days of heavy rainfall caused a building to collapse onto their home in Ikot Anwatim community, Calabar, Cross River State.
Speaking in an interview with The PUNCH, Edu described the tragic events that unfolded on the night of the incident, explaining how persistent rainfall over several days led to the disaster that claimed the lives of her children.
According to Edu, she was not at home when the incident occurred because she was attending to her foodstuff business, which she said was an important source of income for her family.
She recalled that it was around 8:30 p.m. when the tragedy struck after heavy rain had continued for days across Calabar.
Edu explained that three of her children had returned home earlier because of the rainfall, while two others remained with her at her shop.
She said the two children later decided to return home to change their clothes after becoming soaked while coming back from school. They safely reached the house and reunited with their siblings, leaving all five children inside the family home.
According to her, the children were indoors when they suddenly heard a loud sound.
She said a house located on top of a nearby hill gave way under the pressure caused by the prolonged rainfall and collapsed onto their own building.
The impact, she explained, caused mud and floodwater to engulf the house, trapping the children inside.
Edu said four of the children died in the collapse, while one survived after neighbours responded quickly and rescued the child from the wreckage.
Recalling the heartbreaking moment, she said the outcome could have been even worse had neighbours not intervened.
“It rained for days without stopping. That led to the death of my four children – one female and three males. It would have killed all five of them who were inside but neighbours rescued one. It is a very painful situation. You can imagine sleeping in your mother’s house to rest and relax, and then another house collapses and hits your building,” she said.
The bereaved mother described the incident as one of the most painful experiences of her life, saying everything she treasured disappeared within moments.
According to Edu, it was particularly heartbreaking because her children had simply gone home to rest after their daily activities, unaware that a disaster was about to unfold.
She said watching the lives of her children cut short under such tragic circumstances has left her devastated and struggling to come to terms with the loss.
Edu also reflected on the events leading up to the disaster, emphasizing that the prolonged rainfall had created dangerous conditions in the area before the building on the hill eventually collapsed.
Her account highlights the destructive impact of continuous heavy rainfall and the risks faced by residents living in areas vulnerable to landslides and structural failures.
The tragedy has drawn sympathy from members of the public, with many expressing condolences to the family and calling for stronger measures to prevent similar incidents in communities exposed to flooding and landslides.
Residents have also renewed concerns about the safety of buildings constructed on or near hillsides, particularly during periods of prolonged rainfall, urging authorities to strengthen environmental monitoring and enforce building regulations in high-risk locations.
Edu’s testimony underscores the human cost of the disaster, as she mourns the loss of four of her children while expressing gratitude that one child survived through the efforts of neighbours who responded to the emergency.
Her story has resonated widely, with many describing it as a heartbreaking reminder of the devastating consequences that extreme weather events and structural failures can have on families and communities.
As investigations and assessments continue into the circumstances surrounding the collapse, Edu said she remains overwhelmed by grief, struggling to accept that her children had gone home seeking shelter and rest, only for a neighbouring house to collapse onto theirs.
The tragedy has renewed calls for improved disaster preparedness, stronger building safety measures, and effective drainage and environmental management to reduce the risk of similar incidents during periods of heavy rainfall in vulnerable communities.
