Tourists, villagers stranded as landslide blocks Obudu resort

Access road to Obudu resort

A landslide has blocked road access to the popular Obudu Mountain Resort located in Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River State.

PUNCH Metro gathered on Thursday from the residents of the surrounding communities that the movement of the earth by the side of the mountain on Wednesday had sent an avalanche of boulders and earth from the mountainous areas, which blocked the road leading to the top of the mountain where the resort is located.

The incident occurred close to the bottom of the mountain, where three villages namely Anamkpe, Kejiko and Okumo are situated.

The situation, which has left several people stranded at the top of the mountain, however, recorded no fatalities, according to the source.

The source said no fewer than five noticeable slides occurred at different spots in the three villages surrounding the mountain.

He said, “About five landslides have been noticed in the three villages around the mountain. Fortunately, there have not been reports of fatalities from the locals at the top of the mountain.”

Efforts were being made by the State Emergency Management Agency and the Nigerian Air Force to evacuate people from the mountain top as of the time this report.

Locals, familiar with the terrain of the mountains, were already finding their way down through the bush tracks.

The state Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Sandy Onor, said they were still trying to clear the area and take stock of the event.

Onor said, “It is not a situation that should create too much anxiety. Once we get all the facts together, we will speak to the press. What I can say for now is that it is not anything to create undue anxiety at all.”

The clearing of the debris is estimated to take two weeks, a local, who requested anonymity, said.

Meanwhile, the Cross River State Government has assured the general public that the Obudu Mountain Resort remains a safe environment to regular and intending tourists.

The annual Obudu Mountain Race is billed for the third week of November.

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