Fiona Nanna, ForeMedia News

5 minutes read. Updated 1:32PM GMT Fri, 8th November, 2024

At least four people are confirmed dead, and over fifty others remain missing following a tragic landslide that struck Cameroon’s West Region on Tuesday, November 5. The disaster occurred when three passenger buses, along with several road workers, were trapped under tons of earth and rubble on a major highway linking Dschang, a town in the West, to Douala, the country’s bustling economic capital.

Torrential Rains Trigger Landslide

According to Cameroon’s Minister of Public Works, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, the disaster was caused by torrential rains that weakened the soil, leading to a massive landslide. The rainfall, which had been intense over the past few days, significantly destabilized the region’s infrastructure, resulting in the collapse of the earth onto the busy highway.

Djoumessi, who visited the site of the disaster to oversee recovery operations, confirmed that only four bodies had been recovered from the debris as of Wednesday, November 6. Tragically, dozens of individuals remain buried in the rubble, with rescue teams still working to locate the missing. “I’ve asked that rescued victims be taken to the mortuary, while survivors should be fully taken care of in order that they’re quickly relieved of their pains,” Djoumessi stated, emphasizing the importance of swift medical care for those who survived the calamity.

Regional Impact and Response

The landslide struck a region already grappling with the effects of dilapidated infrastructure and frequent natural disasters. Governor Augustin Awa Fonka of the West Region noted that “earth collapses have become common in Cameroon and the world in recent months,” referring to the increasing frequency of landslides and soil erosion in areas with poor road conditions.

This disaster follows a pattern seen across the West African region this year, with neighboring Nigeria also suffering from some of the worst flooding in decades. The flooding in Nigeria, combined with severe weather conditions across the region, has led to more than 1,000 deaths and displaced hundreds of thousands.

Climate Change and Deteriorating Infrastructure

The Minister of Public Works linked the landslide to climate change, which he believes exacerbates the severity of storms and heavy rainfall. According to Djoumessi, the intense weather patterns are putting an enormous strain on already weakened roadways and infrastructure in the West Region. These conditions, coupled with a lack of sufficient investment in infrastructure maintenance, make the region particularly vulnerable to such disasters.

Experts warn that these types of natural disasters may become more frequent as climate change continues to affect the West African region, highlighting the urgent need for better infrastructure and climate resilience strategies. Local authorities and international aid organizations are calling for immediate intervention to provide aid to the affected victims and to implement long-term solutions to address the underlying causes of these disasters.

Ongoing Search and Rescue Efforts

Efforts to locate survivors are ongoing, with rescue teams working tirelessly to clear the debris and access those trapped under the rubble. The Cameroonian government has mobilized emergency teams to the site, and humanitarian organizations have been quick to offer support. However, the scale of the disaster is overwhelming, and it may take days or even weeks to fully assess the damage and identify all the victims.

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Meta Description: At least four people have died and over 50 are missing after a devastating landslide in Cameroon’s West Region. Torrential rains and deteriorating road conditions contributed to the tragedy. Full details on the search and rescue efforts.