Six dead in Douala building collapse after heavy rains

The collapse was attributed to heavy rains that occurred in the city from July 10 to 11. Four individuals were rescued from the rubble and taken to the hospital. According to the municipality, the affected building had previously been evacuated and sealed due to its dilapidated condition, but people had illegally reoccupied the premises, violating safety measures.

Fatal building collapses are common in Cameroon; last month, a similar incident in Douala resulted in one death and four injuries. In July 2023, forty people died in a building collapse overnight. An official census in 2016 indicated that Douala had approximately 500 buildings at risk of collapse.