At least 9 killed, over 20 injured as building collapses in Cameroon's Douala city

By Aurore Bonny

DOUALA, Cameroon (AA) – A four-story building collapsed overnight north of Douala, Cameroon's economic capital, killing at least nine people and injuring at least 20 others, a senior official said on Sunday.

"We were called to the scene at 1:00 a.m. (0000GMT) after the collapse of a building in the Ndogbong district. On-site, we found that it was a 4-story building that had collapsed onto another one-story building. We immediately began rescue operations," said Lt-Colonel Kadrey Abdiel, commander of the 20th Groupement des Sapeurs-pompiers du Cameroun.

The initial death toll received by local authorities on Sunday morning was 32 victims, nine of whom were dead, while 23 were rescued and the work to search the victims was continuing, he said, adding that those rescued are being evacuated to Laquintinie Hospital in Deido district.

However, national radio and television station CRTV reported "12 dead and around 20 injured."

"Investigations will be launched to determine the precise causes. We would just like to point out that the building was in a dilapidated state before the collapse," said Abdiel.

In a statement, Laquintinie Hospital said it had treated 13 victims of the tragedy and received two bodies, including three-year-old and 19-year-old girls.

The other 11 people admitted included three children treated in pediatric emergencies, two teenage girls, a 28-year-old woman, and five men, according to the hospital.