Authorities in Cameroon have confirmed the recovery of 12 bodies after landslides devastated a road in the western region.
Governor Augustine Awa Fonka announced the grim news on Saturday, stating that hopes of finding survivors had faded.
The landslides struck the Dschang cliff road on Tuesday, with a second landslide occurring as rescue teams worked to clear the debris.
Emergency responders were using heavy machinery to assist in the recovery efforts.
Awa Fonka revealed that the bodies of the victims had been recovered by Saturday morning, with dozens more still missing.
The search for additional remains continues, though rescue efforts have grown increasingly dire.
The landslides hit multiple vehicles, including three coaches with around 20 seats each, five smaller cars, and several motorbikes.
The disaster occurred in one of Cameroon’s most hazardous regions for travel, where road accidents are alarmingly frequent.
Cameroonian roads are notoriously dangerous, with almost 3,000 deaths annually due to traffic accidents.
The World Health Organization reported in 2023 that Cameroon experiences more than 10 fatalities per 100,000 people each year.
This tragedy follows another deadly incident in early September, when a tractor-trailer carrying passengers plunged off a cliff near Dschang, killing eight and injuring 62, including children.
As the search for missing individuals continues, authorities are focusing on recovering any remaining victims and preventing further disasters in the region.
