Cameroon – Dozens Dead After Massive Landslide in West Region

by in Africa, News

Heavy rain and floods triggered a massive landslide in the West Region of Cameroon during the evening of 28 October, 2019.

The landslide occurred in the village of Bamoungoum, near the regional capital Bafoussam. All houses in the village are thought to have been destroyed. Agence Cameroun Presse (ACP) said, “no house (eleven in total) could withstand the avalanche of mud, which destroyed everything in its path.”

Full damage assessments are ongoing but initial assessments reported that at least 20 people died in the landslide, with speculation that the toll could be much higher. State-owned radio and television service CRTV said that, as of early on 30 October, 42 people had died. Search and rescue operations are expected to last several days.

President of Cameroon, Paul Biya, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.

Floods in Far North Region Start to Recede

Meanwhile thousands of people remain affected by flooding in the Far North Region of the country after heavy rain caused the Logone River to break its banks in early October. As many as 70,000 people have been affected by the flooding in Cameroon, and around 30,000 in neighbouring parts of Chad. As of 29 October, ACP report that the flood water is slowly starting to recede in Cameroon.

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