Littoral governor’s representative warns of risk zone occupation after three perish in mudslide

The Secretary General at the Littoral governor’s office, Aboubakary Haman Tchuito has on behalf of governor Samuel Dieudonné Ivaha Diboua warned inhabitants of Logbessou in the Douala 5 subdivision of the dangers of constructing or living in risk zones. He cautioned on Wednesday July 17, 2024 while at a construction site in the neighborhood where three foundation diggers were killed by a mudslide.

“First and foremost I extend my condolences to the families of the victims. I want to use this opportunity to sensitize the population of Logbessou in particular and Littoral region in general to please avoid settling in risk zones. They are deadly and you will only regret when a catastrophic incident occurs. You must be conscious and save your life”. The governor’s representative advised.

The tragic incident which occurred at about 10:00am involved four workers. While they were digging the foundation that fateful Wednesday morning, earth from beneath a steep fence of a residence detached and buried them. One who was half buried shouted for help before he was pulled out by a local who later raised alarm.

“Three workers were completely buried and two of them were brothers. The fourth person who was half covered was pulled out and rushed to the hospital. We tried to rescue the other three by digging but it was above us. We had called rescue soldiers and security officials.” An inhabitant disclosed.

Though the rescue soldiers and authorities arrived the scene, the population went furious they came without equipment to save the three others workers trapped in the earth.

“They first of all delayed to come. They arrived without any caterpillar, nothing. They instead drove us away to stand doing nothing for hours. If they came prepared they would have saved those guys “. A local said angrily.

While on the scene, CNA saw a caterpillar arrived at 2:30 pm, about 4 hours after the earth collapsed on the workers and began searching for the bodies. It took about 30 minutes for the all three corpses to be retrieved.

The victims did not have identification documents on them. Their bodies were displayed for identification before taken to the morgue.

As concerns the fourth fourth victim, Aboubakary Haman Tchuito, the governor’s representative confirmed he is doing fine in the hospital.