Hospital Building Collapses in Calabar After Heavy Rainfall Triggers Landslide

Hospital Building Collapses in Calabar After Heavy Rainfall Triggers Landslide
Authorities had not confirmed casualties or injuries as Friday.
Incident renewed concerns over construction on unstable slopes in Calabar.

A hospital building in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, has collapsed following a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the affected structure, identified as UNICEM Hospital, reportedly collapsed on Thursday, August 13, after hours of torrential rain destabilised the hillside on which it was built.

Videos circulating on social media showed parts of the hospital giving way as residents watched from a safe distance.

A Calabar based pharmacist, Mekzy, who shared one of the videos on X, attributed the incident to a landslide caused by the heavy downpour.

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.

The incident left concrete debris and exposed reinforcement rods at the site.

The collapse has renewed concerns about Calabar’s vulnerability to landslides, flooding and erosion during the rainy season.

It has also raised concerns over construction on unstable slopes, inadequate drainage systems and weak enforcement of building regulations.

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