Douala Building Collapse: Government gives firm instructions to councils

Councils have been given firm instructions to intensify controls and seal or stop building constructions that do not comply with building norms in their municipalities, do a general census of risky buildings in their municipalities, and put in place in councils, a mechanism that will let the population denounce risky constructions in the municipalities.

The instructions were dished out by the Government of Cameroon through its spokesperson, Rene Emmanuel Sadi in a release on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, in reaction to the 4-storey building collapse in Douala on Sunday, July 23, whose death toll has gone above 37 and leaving many others injured.

In the release, Rene Emmanuel Sadi says investigations have been opened to know the exact cause of the collapse. The 4-storey building collapsed on sleeping occupants, bringing down another storey building.

While insisting that those found guilty in this building collapse issue will be brought to book, Government also instructs councils to put in place teams that efficiently manage cases of risky construction.