Four dead and 50 missing in Dschang landslide, Cameroon
A landslide caused by heavy rains killed at least four people and left more than 50 missing in Cameroon’s West Region on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
Landslide in Dschang, Cameroon on November 5, 2024. Image credit: The Cameroonian
According to local authorities, the landslide struck three buses and multiple road workers in western Cameroon on November 5, resulting in four deaths and around 50 people missing.
The death toll is likely to rise as only four bodies have been recovered from the debris, with dozens more believed to be buried.
According to Cameroon’s Minister of Public Works, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, the landslide was caused by heavy rains along the highway connecting Dschang in western Cameroon to Douala, the country’s economic capital.
“I’ve asked that deceased victims be taken to the mortuary, while survivors should receive comprehensive care to alleviate their suffering as quickly as possible,” said Djoumessi.
West Africa has experienced some of its most severe flooding in decades this year, resulting in over 1 000 deaths and displacing hundreds of thousands of people.
“Earth collapses have become common in Cameroon and around the world in recent months, and roads in these regions have become dilapidated,” said Augustin Awa Fonka, governor of the West Region.
References:
1 At least 4 dead and dozens are missing in Cameroon after landslide – AFP – November 6, 2024
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