Residents of Calabar and its environs in Cross River, have been advised to fortify their houses and other structures against possible flooding and erosions as the rainy season sets in.

The Director-General of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr Vincent Aquah,  gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Calabar.

Aquah, who spoke after assessing collapsed structures including some perimeter fences in Calabar metropolis, decried the menace of flood and erosion in the state.

He said that unless adequate attention was given to the maintenance of structures, the clearing of water ways and de-silting of gutters, there were likely to be flooding and other calamities.

Aquah expressed the fear that with the rate of flooding incidents in the state, “landslides are just possible but we hope and pray that we don’t experience such.”

The director-general urged the collaborating agencies in the state to intensify efforts at curtailing the incessant flood incidents, particularly in Calabar metropolis.

He recalled that more than 7,000 persons in the metropolis had been displaced due to flooding incidents in 2011.

Aqua, however, expressed optimism that with the efforts of the state government in constructing and reconstructing roads and drainages and clearing of water ways in the metropolis, effect of flood would be minimal this year.

He also commended the Calabar South Local Government Area and Calabar Municipal Council for their supportive roles in managing disasters in their areas and called for sustenance of the effort.

One of the landlords of the collapsed structures, Mr Edem Umoh, said that thousands of Naira worth of household property including furniture, electronics, food stuff and clothing were destroyed by the flood.