As heavy rains intensify: Gov’t sounds alarm on imminent floods, landslides…in six regions.

The warning is contained in a release issued October 11, by the Minister of Transport, Jean Ernest Massena Ngalle Bibehe.

In the release, the member of government cautioned the population of the Far North, North, Adamawa, North West, West and East Regions as well as those along the coast, to be on the watch out. 

Minister Ngalle Bibehe disclosed that according to forecasts contained in the seasonal forecast and rainy season monitoring bulletin for this period, elaborated by the National Meteorological Directorate, these heavy rains will be in excess in the areas concerned.

He also warned that the regular heavy rains forecast in the said Regions will sometimes be “accompanied by violent winds” throughout the months of September, October and November 2023.

“They could lead to erosion, pollution of drinking water, flooding in low-lying areas, landslides in accident-prone zones and destruction of road infrastructure and housing in the aforementioned areas,” warned Minister Ngalle Bibehe in the release. 

The rest of the country, the proactive member of government noted, “is likely to experience more or less normal rainfall, with no major risks for the population”. 

Minister Ngalle Bibehe urged the population of the concerned Regions to “remain vigilant, clear flood risk areas”.

He also appealed to them to “regularly consult the weather forecasts elaborated by the National Meteorological Directorate and broadcast on CRTV, on Facebook accounts (www.facebook.com/Météorologie Nationale du Cameroun) and Twitter accounts (@DMN_CMR), on the website (www.meteocameroon.gov.cm) of the National Meteorological Directorate and on the mobile application (Meteo Cameroon), available on Play store”.

The warning of the Minister of Transport, many have said, means government must get to work without delay, to avoid a situation that could result to further deaths as has been recorded in parts of the country. 

The warning of the member of government comes barely days after over 30 people were killed and over 20 others, including newborns, injured, after a dam constructed in the colonial area collapsed, Sunday October 9, provoking a landslide in the Mbankolo neighbourhood in Yaounde. 

The dam collapsed after prolonged hours of rainfall. The water from the dam and the rain destroyed about 50 homes at the neighbourhood.

Population battling to rescue victims in Mbankolo landslide scene 

Mfoundi SDO orders population to evacuate risk zone

In a bid to prevent another case of natural disaster in his area of command, the Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, of Mfoundi Division in the Centre Region, Emmanuel Mariel Djikdent, has issued fresh warning for those in risk zones to vacate the said areas.

In a release issued October 11, the civil administrator ordered the population of the Ngousso around Ebama vicinity, living behind the former Eiforces headquarters, of serious cracks that have been observed on a slope supporting dwellings in the area. 

Djikdent, in view of averting another landslide that could engulfed houses below, urged all those resident in the concern area to evacuate without delay, under the supervision of forces of law and order, without panic. The SDO said his release is the final warning to the population of the area who have been hesitant to leave the said area. 

Worth recalling that in recent years, similar incidents not unconnected to climate change and other environmental constraints have been witnessed across parts of the country. 

Weather experts have increasingly linked such natural occurrences to poor construction as well as the non-respect of drainage routes.