A landslide on Sunday sank the kitchen of a home on Asutan Street at Uyo in Akwa Ibom State.
The street was cut into two.
Three children, who just finished making dinner were injured when the kitchen sank.
Asutan Street and adjoining areas have been affected by erosion for over 30 years.
House owner Francis Ikpe described the landslide as devastating.
“It was a devastating experience. Three children were preparing food and about five minutes after leaving the kitchen, it collapsed.
“The children were eating when suddenly there was a bang and the kitchen was buried.”
According to him, the problem became serious when the government embarked on street repairs and construction of drainages. He said water from six adjoining streets was channelled to the place without a chamber to receive the volume of water.
“I own House 16 on Asutan Street, the compound that is badly threatened by the erosion. We have lived with the erosion for more than 30 years, though it was not this disastrous.
“But when the government started massive streets repairs and drainages, water from six adjoining streets, including barracks road, was diverted here and no chamber was built to receive the water.
“A lot of damage has been done. When it rains, the water increases and this has been posing threats to life and property.”
Ikpe urged the state to intervene before the house is completely swallowed by the slide. The government has ordered residents of erosion-ravaged areas to vacate to safer places.
READ ALSO: Residents Flee As 2 Houses Collapse In Imo
Commissioner for Environment and Petroleum Resources Charles Udoh issued the vacation order after inspecting critical erosion sites in Uyo.
But residents said they could not relocate without government providing alternatives for them.
Austin Iton appealed to the state to provide alternatives for them. Another resident insisted on a resettlement support from government.
He vowed to drown than leave his ancestral home. ( TheNation )
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