12 Killed, Several Injured in Building Collapse Tragedy in Cameroon’s Douala

Sun Jul 23 2023
icon-facebook icon-twitter icon-whatsapp

YAOUNDE: A devastating building collapse in Douala, the business hub of Cameroon, has resulted in the death of at least 12 lives and left 21 others injured, with five in critical condition.

The incident occurred on Sunday when a four-storey building crumbled onto another residential structure in the northern part of the city. Rescue efforts are underway, with authorities and firefighters working tirelessly to search for survivors amidst the debris.

A senior fire brigade official, who spoke to told a foreign news agency on the condition of anonymity, provided details of the tragic event. The collapse took place at around 1:00 am (0000 GMT), causing significant destruction and claiming numerous lives.

Charles Elie Zang Zang, a municipal councilor in Douala, confirmed that rescue services are actively engaged in searching for survivors in the rubble. The situation remains critical, and the authorities are doing everything possible to find and assist those trapped under the collapsed structures.

As the scale of the disaster unfolds, Douala’s Laquintinie Hospital has reported receiving 13 patients from the scene. Among the injured, two have tragically succumbed to their injuries – a three-year-old girl and a 19-year-old woman. Additionally, three children are receiving emergency pediatric treatment for their injuries.

Building Collapse Incidents in Cameroon’s Douala

Regrettably, this is not the first time such a catastrophe has occurred in the city. In 2016, five people lost their lives in a similar building collapse in Douala. Authorities then attributed the tragedy to the poor state of repairs and apparent violations of building regulations.

In response to previous incidents, local authorities had identified 500 buildings that were at risk of collapse in June of the same year. Despite such actions, this recent tragedy highlights the urgent need for rigorous enforcement of building standards and safety measures to prevent such devastating accidents in the future.

 

icon-facebook icon-twitter icon-whatsapp