Jackson Community, Rivercess County – A wave of panic has swept across several coastal communities in Cestos, Rivercess County, as sea erosion continues to rapidly eat away their land, leaving residents in fear and desperation.
The communities of Jackson, Lonestar, and Kru Town have been the hardest hit, with dozens of homes, farmland, and trees already lost to the advancing waves of the Atlantic Ocean.
“This sea erosion is not normal. Where you now see water, we used to play football and even had houses in the ‘70s and ‘80s,” said Othello Jarvan, Chairman of the Jackson Beach Community, in an interview with Verity on Tuesday, August 5. “The sea is coming closer every day, and people are living in fear. We can’t even sleep at night.”
Residents say the situation has grown worse in recent months, raising alarms about both safety and livelihoods. Some attribute the problem to environmental disruptions upstream.
John Gardea, a concerned resident, pointed to unregulated mining activities along the Cestos River, which empties into the Atlantic at Cestos City. “Miners have destroyed the natural waterfalls and barriers that used to control the flow of the river. Now, that pressure is feeding directly into the ocean currents, causing massive erosion,” Gardea explained.
The sea erosion is also taking a toll on local fishing, a key source of livelihood for many in the area. Alphonso Kofa, a fisherman, said landing canoes has become dangerous and difficult due to the aggressive waves. “Sometimes we get stranded at sea because we can’t find a safe spot to bring our boats ashore,” he lamented.
The communities are now appealing to the Government of Liberia and international partners to intervene before the situation worsens. Residents fear that if nothing is done, more homes and lives could be lost in the coming months.
“We are on the verge of being wiped off the map,” Jarvan warned. “We need help now—before it’s too late.”
