Cestos City, Rivercess County – July 29, 2025 – An environmental crisis is unfolding in Cestos City, Rivercess County, where rapid sea erosion is eating away at the shoreline and causing worry among residents. Communities along the Atlantic coast warn that if urgent action isn’t taken, this could turn into a disaster, forcing families to leave and damaging the local economy.
Reports from Ableejay Media’s Rivercess correspondent say powerful Atlantic waves have already swallowed large parts of the coast, uprooting coconut trees near a guesthouse recently built by former Public Works Minister Ruth Cooker Collins. Residents fear the sea is getting dangerously close to the Cestos River, an important waterway for transport and livelihoods in the area.
“The situation is very worrying,” the correspondent said. “People are afraid that before the rainy season ends, the sea could cause serious damage. Houses along the oceanfront are already at risk.”
Local residents are urgently asking the Liberian government, especially the Ministry of Public Works, to build a coastal defense system. They warn that without quick action, many families could lose their homes, and fishing and small businesses could collapse.
“This is not just about losing land; it’s about losing homes, businesses, and a way of life,” one resident said. “We need help now before it’s too late.”
Political Response
Rivercess County District #2 Representative Steve Tequah promised to raise the issue in the national government. “We can’t just watch our capital city be destroyed,” Tequah said. “I will bring this up in the House of Representatives when the session starts again.”
While some locals feel hopeful after his statement, many remain doubtful because of the government’s slow response to past climate problems in Liberia’s coastal areas.
Data Analysis: The Growing Threat of Sea Erosion
Sea erosion isn’t new in Liberia, but it is happening faster and more intensely than before. Data from Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows over 25% of the country’s 579-kilometer coastline is highly vulnerable to erosion. Severe shoreline loss has been seen recently in Grand Bassa, Sinoe, Montserrado, and Rivercess counties.
A 2024 World Bank study warned that coastal erosion and flooding could cost Liberia about $250 million by 2030, mainly from damage to homes, roads, and farmland. Cestos City, located at the mouth of the Cestos River, is especially at risk because it is low-lying and lacks protective sea defenses.
The effect on people is also serious. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) estimates over 500,000 Liberians—about 10% of the population—live in areas threatened by rising sea levels and erosion. In Rivercess County, hundreds of families could be forced to move if the shoreline keeps shrinking.
Beyond displacement, sea erosion threatens food security. Fishing, the mainstay of Rivercess’s economy, is at risk as fishermen lose their docks and homes are washed away. Women who sell fish and small goods near the shore are especially vulnerable.
The Urgent Call for Action
Experts say Liberia must invest in coastal defenses like seawalls, mangrove restoration, and early warning systems. Without these, the social and economic damage could be huge.
“Sea erosion isn’t just an environmental problem; it’s a matter of national security and economic survival,” an EPA official said recently. “Delaying action will cost much more in resettlement, rebuilding, and lost income than fixing the problem now.”
For now, the people of Cestos City wait anxiously for the government’s response. As the waves keep moving inland, the question is whether Liberia will take strong steps to protect this vulnerable coastal city—or if it will be caught unprepared again by nature’s forces.
