By RFIPosted on 10-29-2019Modified on 29-10-2019 at 15:56

At least 27 people died in a landslide in Bafoussam, western Cameroon. The drama occurred on the night of Monday to Tuesday. Relief operations are still in progress to try to find the missing.

According to several testimonies collected on the spot, the earth cracked in this district located in the district of Bafoussam IIIe, around 22 hours. The result was a strong flow of mud that surprised several residents, some of whom were getting ready to go to bed. Many homes were buried and dozens of people trapped.

It is only this Tuesday morning that first aid began to organize because of heavy rains that hit the city for several days and make it difficult to access the scene of the tragedy. According to an initial assessment, 27 bodies have already been extracted from the rubble, while about 50 people are announced missing.

Relief operations were continuing on Tuesday afternoon, but firefighters would still have trouble accessing the site. The clay is clay and the area very accidentogenic, informed one of them.

The Minister of Decentralization and Local Development, who is in the city, went there with the governor. He promised urgent aid of 5 million CFA francs to help the eviction and support the victims. The area impacted by this drama located between two hills is crossed by a marshy valley.

The search for victims continues at Ngouache neighborhood in #Bafoussam after the landslide last night. This morning, 20 bodies had already been removed. The human toll could get heavier. At least 11 houses were swallowed up. #Cameroon pic.twitter.com/m7gD00R53r

CRTVweb (@CRTV_web) October 29, 2019

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