Footage from the scene showed a large mass of earth sliding towards the hospital complex before sections of the building gave way
By Frank Ulom
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Published on August 15, 2026
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2 min read
A hospital building in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, has collapsed after a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall.
The affected facility, identified as UNICEM Hospital, reportedly gave way on Thursday, August 13, after hours of torrential rain destabilised the hillside on which the building was located.
Videos circulating on social media showed a large portion of the hospital complex collapsing while residents watched from a safe distance.
A Calabar-based pharmacist, Mekzy, who shared one of the videos on X, attributed the incident to a landslide caused by the heavy downpour.
Footage from the scene showed a large mass of earth sliding towards the hospital complex before sections of the building gave way. The collapse left concrete debris and exposed reinforcement rods scattered across the site.
The incident reportedly caused panic among residents in the area, although there was no official confirmation of casualties as of Friday.
Emergency authorities had also not confirmed whether anyone was trapped, injured or killed in the incident.
The collapse has renewed concerns over the vulnerability of parts of Calabar to landslides, flooding and erosion, particularly during periods of intense rainfall.
Residents and stakeholders have also raised concerns about construction on unstable slopes, inadequate drainage systems and the enforcement of building regulations in areas considered environmentally vulnerable.
The incident is expected to intensify calls for stricter development controls and mandatory geotechnical assessments before construction begins in areas prone to erosion and landslides.
Such assessments are used to determine ground stability and identify potential risks of slope failure, particularly in locations exposed to heavy rainfall.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Cross River State Government nor relevant emergency management agencies had issued a detailed official statement on the collapse.
Authorities are expected to assess the site, determine the cause and extent of the structural failure, and establish whether the building complied with relevant construction and safety requirements.
