29th February, 2012
Several roads were cut off this morning by trees and roofs of houses pulled down by a devastating rain storm which ripped through the ancient city last night following a heavy rain.
The rain driven by severe wind destroyed the roofs of over 100 houses along with economic and ornamental trees which dot the city.
The pulled down roofs and trees blocked major streets like Mayne Avenue, Goldie, IBB Way, Marian Road and several other arteries in the city, effectively causing severe traffic jam as motorists had to make detours through streets that were still relatively accessible.
Staff of the Calabar Urban Development Agency, CUDA, were seen cutting some of the trees with hacksaws and machetes to make way for traffic this morning.
A staff of CUDA who gave his name as Mike Inem told P.M.NEWS that he was awaken by a phone call from Mr Egari, the Secretary of CUDA to move to sites around the city to cut and remove trees pulled down by the rain to ease traffic.
As at the time of writing this report there was no report of any loss of lives but the boss of Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, (SEMA), Mr. Vincent Aqua, said he was still assessing the situation and would “inform you at the appropriate time the level of devastation and if any life was lost.”
The rains which started at about 1 a.m. lasted for over an hour.
—Emma Una/ Calabar