Dschang Double Landslide Death Toll Rises to 12

Dschang Double Landslide Death Toll Rises to 12

The death toll from the double landslide on November 5, 2024, at the Dschang cliff in Cameroon’s West region has risen significantly, according to local authorities. « The official count now stands at 12 dead, » Dschang Mayor Jacquis Gabriel Kemleu Tchabgou confirmed in a Facebook announcement on Sunday, November 10, five days after the disaster. This update follows an earlier report noting « four bodies recovered from the debris, » initially announced by the West region’s governor, Awa Fonka Augustine, who had described the situation as especially troubling.
One person was rescued alive from the rubble: Kevin Mbafou, the driver of Dschang’s municipal loader, which was buried in the slide. « The loader was driven back to Dschang City Hall by Mr. Kevin Mbafou, a brave survivor of this tragic landslide, » stated the mayor, praising Mbafou for his courage and resilience.
The incident began around 10:40 a.m. when the first landslide blocked the road, halting traffic and stranding several vehicles. Governor Awa Fonka Augustine reported that emergency equipment was swiftly deployed to clear the blockage, but a second, more massive landslide occurred at around 2:30 p.m., engulfing everything in its path. « As the equipment provided by the West regional delegation of Public Works and Dschang’s City Hall was nearly finished clearing the road, another large-scale slide struck the same location, » he explained in a statement on November 5.
Drone footage shows that three heavy machines engaged in clearing operations were buried, along with three Coaster-type transport buses, five Picnic-type vehicles, several motorcycles, and passersby in the area. However, the governor did not specify whether all vehicles carried passengers or provide an exact count. He did confirm four fatalities in the initial report. Mayor Kemleu told the BBC that around fifty people may still be trapped under the debris, primarily public transport passengers and a few bystanders. This raises fears that the death toll may increase. Authorities have not ruled out finding more bodies under the rubble. Search operations are ongoing, with rescue teams digging down to a depth of five meters. Hopes remain that more survivors could be found, though difficult terrain conditions are complicating the rescue efforts.
The Dschang cliff, also known as the Santchou or Fokéré cliff, is notoriously hazardous due to its steep terrain and heavy traffic. This area is frequently the site of road accidents, often with fatalities. In January 2021, a tragic accident involving a bus and a fuel truck killed 55 people and injured 29 others.
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