Death toll at 27 after dam bursts in Cameroon's capital

Oct 10, 2023

National
Death toll at 27 after dam bursts in Cameroon's capital

Yaounde [Cameroon], October 10: Rescue workers in Cameroon have recovered the bodies of at least 27 people who were killed after a dam burst at the weekend in the capital Yaounde.
The dam failure occurred late on Sunday evening in the Mbangkolo district after heavy rains, the deputy commander of the National Fire Brigade, PetatoaDoufong, told DPA on Monday.
The wave of water unleashed by the dam's failure destroyed at least 25 houses, according to Doufong. He said that 15 bodies were recovered on Sunday evening and 12 more so far on Monday.
The number of victims is likely to rise as rescue work continues, Doufong said. About 20 injured people had been taken to nearby hospitals, he said.
The flood destroyed many buildings in the district and washed away at least 30 houses in the Mbankoloneighbourhood, causing others to collapse with residents inside.
Flooding is common in Cameroon, especially in recent years.
Source: Qatar Tribune