YAOUNDE, Cameroon — Authorities reported that at least four individuals lost their lives and over 50 others are currently unaccounted for in western Cameroon following a landslide involving three passenger buses and several road workers. This unfortunate incident occurred on Tuesday amidst heavy rainfall that had saturated the area, leading to soil instability, as noted by Cameroon’s Minister of Public Work, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, during his visit to the disaster site; the location is a crucial highway connecting Dschang in the West Region to Douala, the nation’s economic hub.

Rescue workers have so far recovered four bodies from the debris, but numerous victims remain trapped beneath the rubble. Minister Djoumessi stated, “I’ve requested that the bodies of the deceased be taken to the mortuary while ensuring that survivors receive comprehensive medical care to alleviate their suffering.”

The landslide occurred amidst a broader context of severe flooding that has swept across West Africa this year, resulting in over 1,000 fatalities and displacing hundreds of thousands within the region.

Augustin Awa Fonka, the governor of the West Region, pointed out, “Incidents of earth collapses have become increasingly frequent in Cameroon and globally in recent months, with many roads in our areas now in a state of disrepair.”

In attributing the landslide to the relentless rains, Minister Djoumessi highlighted the role of climate change. Despite Africa contributing a minor fraction to global greenhouse gas emissions, it remains one of the regions most at risk from extreme weather phenomena, as emphasized by the World Meteorological Organization’s earlier statements this year.