Landslide In Cameroon Kills 23

Tragedy struck in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon, as a devastating landslide, triggered by heavy rainfall, claimed the lives of at least 23 people, according to firefighters who are tirelessly searching for more victims. Landslides are a recurring threat during Yaounde's rainy season, where houses are often precariously built on the city's numerous hillsides. The latest catastrophe unfolded on Sunday evening in the district of Mbankolo, located northwest of Yaounde and home to nearly three million residents. The torrential rain led to the breach of a dam that held back an artificial lake situated on higher ground, as reported by public broadcaster CRTV. David Petatoa Poufong, the second-in-command at the fire service, informed reporters at the scene, "Yesterday we pulled out 15 people who had died, and this morning we have found eight. We are still looking." As distraught relatives looked on, firefighters removed the bodies of victims, which were then covered with sheets and transported away from the site. A security cordon was established to ensure the safety of onlookers and media personnel. Images broadcast on television depicted a section of a hillside that had collapsed, revealing the remnants of houses constructed from wood, dried earth bricks, and metal sheeting. In the distance, the remains of hillside dwellings swept away by the landslide were visible. Local administrative official Daouda Ousmanou explained on public radio, "There was a landslide after heavy rain. The water swept away everything in its path." The onslaught of mud resulted in the destruction of approximately 30 houses, according to CRTV. Footage from the night showed torrents of water and mud continuing to flow in some areas. This tragic event is a painful reminder of the recurring threat posed by landslides during the rainy season in Yaounde. In November of the previous year, a landslide claimed the lives of at least 15 people in the Damas district on the eastern outskirts of Yaounde. Additionally, in 2019, heavy rains triggered a landslide in the western city of Bafoussam, claiming the lives of 43 people and sweeping away a dozen flimsy dwellings constructed on the side of a hill.