Inferno destroys 300 huts at new Bakassi settlement
In recent times, natural disasters have constituted a serious threat to man and the environment. Across the country, it has been one disaster after another. From Calabar to Obanliku, communities have witnesses various forms of disasters leading to loss of hundreds of human lives and property worth millions of naira. In recent times inferno destroyed about 300 huts in the new Bakassi resettlement area.
Statistics made available to DAILY SUN showed that Cross River State has experienced about fourteen (14) types of disaster which include windstorm, landslide wind and rainstorms, hailstone, draught, communal clashes, air pollutions, fire outbreak, coastal erosion, flood and windstorm.
However, the State Emergency Management Agency led by the Director-General, Dr. Vincent Aqua, has risen to the occasion as it has been battling with the lean resources available to it to ensure prompt response and putting in place measures to forestall occurrence where possible.
Of particular note are constructions of a waste re-cycle village 60 sites requiring erosion and flood control; installation of six air monitoring stations at designated industrial areas, automatic hydrological equipments for flood control, two seismographs for detection of earth tremor and enhance monitoring of noise nuisance in the state.
Besides, Aqua has since assumption of office, tried to be dynamic in his approach and proactive in disaster management. And part of efforts aimed at managing disasters was the setting up of Grassroots Emergency Volunteer Corps at Ikom Local Government Area and organizing disaster awareness campaigns as well as prompt response to victims within the shortest possible time.
?But in spite of concerted efforts to stem the tide, the rate of natural disaster has continued unabated as tragedy struck again at Afa Iso Mbiet community in Day Spring II Island in Bakassi local government area of Cross River State following a fire outbreak gutted the new fishing settlement destroying over 300 huts and rendering 3000 persons homeless.
Other households items also destroyed by the fire incident includes beds, clothes, food, electronics, cash, fishing implements, boats and outboard engines worth hundreds of thousands of naira. Equally affected by the disaster were Government Primary School, three Churches and three provision stores.
Eye-witness account said the fire outbreak which occurred on Friday, January 7, 2011 at noon was further aggravated by the dry season wind which blew across the area spreading the fire to all the huts thereby making it difficult for villagers to put out.
When Daily Sun visited the area, it was observed that many of the displaced persons were hurriedly putting up make shift huts with wild palms to accommodate the people while majority have temporarily relocated to neighbouring fishing ports.
Women and children were seen helplessly crouching around exposed to the inclement weather of the harmattan breeze with barely any cloth to cover themselves and no food or water to drink.
Narrating their ordeals, the village head of Afa Iso Mbiet, Chief Effiong Iman, whose palace was also burnt, said that the fire which started as a surprise created panic amongst the populace who had no inkling of the inferno.
Mfon Effiong Okon, 31, who sustained a first degree burnt, said that the injury was as a result of his effort at stopping the fire.
Another victim, Mrs. Emem Isong, 27, a shop owner, who deals on cloths, said everything in her shop was burnt in the inferno and call on Government for urgent help.
Mrs. Isong, pregnant, pointing to large empty space where her shop was, asked rhetorically in tears, 'where will I go from here, I have lost all my life savings and endeavours. How do I start all over?'
Also speaking, the Pastor of The Apostolic Church in the village, Elder Effiong Asuquo Akpan, said that apart from the structure, the Church property worth hundreds of thousands of Naira was lost.
Assessing the disaster, the Director-General, Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Mr. Vincent Aquah, MON, described the incessant natural disasters across the state, saying such unfortunate accident has a heavy draw back to the economic lives of the victims as well as the State.
The Director-General, who was represented by the Programme Assessor in the Agency, Peggie Inyang, said that it was a pathetic situation which needed urgent response, advising the victims to exercise patience as Government take actions into the matter.
The Pastor of The Apostolic Church in the village, Elder Effiong Asuquo Akpan said that apart from the structure, the Church property worth thousands of Naira was lost.
Assessing the disaster, the Director-General, Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Mr. Vincent Aquah, MON described the unfortunate accident as a heavy draw back to the economic lives of the victims as well as the State.
The Director-General who was represented by the Programme Assessor in the Agency, Peggie Inyang said that it was a pathetic situation which needed urgent response, promising the victims of urgent government intervention.
Expressing shock at the yew year incident, the Vice Chairman elect of Bakassi Local Government Council, Hon. Orok Eneyo, said it was quite unfortunate that at the time they were trying to recover from the loss of the homeland to Cameroon and settle down to their new home, fire gutted their property, thereby setting them back.
He, however, condoled with the victims after assessing the situation and promised to put measures in place to avoid such ugly occurrence.
As at the time of going to press, the Bakassi General Assembly led by its Chairman was said to have delivered relief materials worth thousands of Naira to the victims.
The youth leader of the organization, Prince Edem Nsa, who presented the materials, said the relief was to cushion the effect of the disaster while still expecting assistance from the government and voluntary agencies.