At least 27 people have died after a dam collapsed in Cameroon. The rescue work is still ongoing – and the number of deaths could continue to rise. The dam burst due to heavy rains.
At least 27 people have died and more than 50 have been injured after a dam collapsed in Cameroon’s capital Yaoundé. The dam broke late on Sunday evening after heavy rain in the Mbangkolo district, said the deputy commander of the National Fire Service, Petatoa Doufong, to the dpa news agency.
Helpers recovered 15 bodies on Sunday evening and twelve more on Monday. The rescue work continued. The number of victims will probably increase, said Doufong. “I have come to convey the condolences of Cameroonian President Paul Biya to the bereaved families,” continued Doufon.
Residents view the destruction caused by a landslide in Cameroon’s capital Yaoundé.
At least 25 houses destroyed
Rescue workers are still digging through the mud and rubble “in the hope of saving lives,” said Daouda Ousmanou, the top government official in the affected district.
According to fire chief Doufong, the tidal wave destroyed at least 25 houses. In recent years there have been repeated floods in Cameroon, for which experts have often blamed climate change.
Building regulations often bypassed
In addition, houses are often poorly built because regulations are circumvented and the houses cannot withstand such disasters. Authorities in Cameroon have already demolished numerous houses in areas prone to floods and landslides. Many of the buildings that collapsed on Sunday were also slated for demolition.