A two- day landslide has left over 100 persons trapped in Akwakuma in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State. The disaster, which occurred last Saturday, took place at Trinity Street.
The landslide, it was gathered, also cut off more than six buildings in the area with many residents trapped.
One of the victims and a lecturer at the Department of Mass Communication, Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri, Emma Ogu, stated that for days, his family and many residents were trapped in the landslide.
Said Ogu, who estimated the depth of the gully caused by the slide at 10 feet: “We need urgent attention now from the state government to avert further calamity”.
Two major churches, St. Phillip Anglican Church, Akwakuma, and Holy Trinity Catholic Church, it was gathered, were also involved in the slide, which affected other residential and commercial houses in the area.
Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Ike Njoku, said officials of the ministry had visited the affected area., advising the people of the area to always check the level of water flow in the area.
Said he: “It is a big problem for the state. This is because there are more than 300 erosion sites on Imo. Meanwhile, we have taken the matter to the State Government who said that we slate the area as one of those areas that have urgent attention in the state”.
