Chaos erupted at Yaounde’s Lycee Bilingue Etoug-Ebe High School on Monday morning, as a stampede triggered by hundreds of rushing students left at least 106 injured and multiple confirmed dead. The incident unfolded as the school gates opened, unleashing a surge of latecomers that quickly spiraled into pandemonium.
Witnesses described a harrowing scene of students jostling and pushing, with many knocked down and trampled in the frantic scramble to enter the compound. Panic and confusion reigned as the crowd pressed forward, creating a human crush that overwhelmed the narrow entrance.
The desperation turned to anger, with some students venting their frustration by vandalizing the principal’s car, flipping it over in a desperate display of outrage. Local media reports, citing Mfoundi senior divisional officer Emmanuel Mariel Djikdent and emergency responders, confirmed the tragic loss of at least ten lives in the aftermath.
As rescue efforts continue, the exact number of casualties remains under assessment. The air at the scene crackles with grief and tension, as parents and community members gather, demanding answers and accountability from school officials. Questions swirl around the cause of the stampede, with concerns raised about crowd control measures and emergency preparedness.
The stampede has cast a dark shadow over Yaounde, sending shockwaves through the community and prompting investigations into the circumstances surrounding this devastating event. In the wake of this tragedy, questions of student safety and school management will undoubtedly demand urgent attention.
It is crucial to ensure a thorough investigation into the factors that contributed to this incident, to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future. The victims, both injured and deceased, deserve justice and support, while the community grapples with the emotional toll of this senseless loss of life.
