Cameroon Landslide Kills 37

A deadly landslide in the town of Bafoussam, in the west of Cameroon, as claimed the lives of at least 37 people, with many more still feared trapped.

The earth was dislodged by heavy rain, cascading down a slope and flattening houses.

Authorities have said the houses that were hit by the slide were built on unsuitable and dangerous terrain, despite repeated government warnings not to put them there.

Albert Kenge, a local who managed to escape described the events, saying “Around 10pm, I heard a noise.  I saw a big cloud of dust and when it dissipated, I saw that the mountain had collapsed”.

Authorities have said they expect the death toll to rise as the rescue operation continues into the coming days.

In an unusually wet period, heavy rain has continued in the region beyond the typical rainy season, causing severe flooding across Central Africa which has displaced nearly 30,000 people in the Central African Republic to Cameroon’s east.

Furthermore, UNICEF, the UN’s children’s agency, reported that flooding in South Sudan caused by excessive rainfall has destroyed health centres and transport networks, meaning access to vital food and medicine supplies are extremely difficult.