Floods back in Douala

The heavy rains that befell the city of Douala, for two days, has caused severe flooding in parts of the port city.

Several people have been rescued from the waters after a mobilization of people with the support of firefighters.

Although no death was recorded, material losses were significant; with homes half submerged in the water, properties washed away and other destroyed instruments.

One consequence of this incident was dense traffic situations in several areas of the city. The water had flooded the roads.

On the Akwa-Ndokoti highway, between the 1st and the 3rd arrondissement and at a place called BP CIT2-Sic, the spectacle was striking. Vehicles had been left by their owners, on the road, due to the pressure and level of the water.

It was the same scenario at the descent of the river at Kondi PK 8 junction between the towns of Douala 3rd and 5th, movements of vehicles were suspended for several hours.

"This is the third time, in the space of two months, that there have been intense floods in Douala," acknowledged an inhabitant of Mabanda 4th while adding that “many people have abandoned their homes in recent weeks because of the floods.”

In July, the government created an emergency committee to manage the problems of flood in the city of Douala; an act which led to the eviction of more than 2,000 families whose homes were situated at swamp zones and close to drainage systems.

Despite the launch of a massive operation on ventilation of drains and cleaning of gutters, several neighborhoods in Douala are still under the threat of flooding especially when it rains frequently.