Residents of Atimbo in Calabar, Cross River, have urged the state government to address the issue of falling trees during rainfalls.

They said trees have been destroying their properties, especially houses and cars under them.

Samuel Ekpenyong said the rain that fell on Monday evening came with stormy winds, and a resident’s car was damaged.

“She was still calling out for the gate to be opened for her when a huge tree in front of the building fell on the car and seriously damaged it,” said Mr Ekpenyong on Tuesday. “Although the woman was not injured because she was not in the car when the tree fell, this is one too many damages in Calabar.”

Ikaete Livinus said there have been complaints about some of the trees in the Calabar metropolis that have become too old and too large.

“Late 2024, Calabar was rendered without power for days because of a similar stormy rain that brought countless old trees down in the city. These trees did not just fall. They destroyed power installations like wires and poles and private properties like shops and buildings.

“It even made it practically impossible to access the Murtala Muhammed Highway because of the number of huge untrimmed trees that fell that night. “The state government needs to be proactive and start assessing these trees early before the rainy season,” she said.

The commissioner for environment, Moses Osogi, sympathised with those who have lost properties from the fallen trees. He urged people in the city to park far away from trees during a storm.

Mr Osogi said the Cross River government was taking measures to ensure that old trees in the city are cut down to prevent more catastrophes.

(NAN)