Collapsed Building : Minister Visits Site, Comforts Victims

The death toll of the building that collapsed behind Mobil Guinness Ndogbong Douala has risen to 33 as the rescue mission continues. The Minister of Housing and Urban Development (MINDUH), Célestine Ketcha Courtès, was in Douala on Monday, July 24 to get firsthand information and to evaluate the situation so far. Onsite, she was informed that 33 people have died so far, 21 injured while eight were in critical conditions at the Deido district hospital and the Laquintinie hospital.
The Minister took time off to visit some victims in both hospitals, and also visited some bereaved families. While in the hospital, the Minister comforted the victims while assuring them that the government will take full charge of their treatment. During a meeting with the local authorities, the Regional Delegate of Public Health and the Directors of Laquintinie and the Deido district hospitals gave an update on the situation and what has been done so far.
From their intervention, we gathered that 16 people were rushed to the Deido district hospital out of which three were already dead, 10 have been discharged, two were still hospitalized and one was transferred to Laquintinie. The director of Laquintinie Hospital said that they received the first victims around 3 am Sunday, July 23. He said they received 11 people out of which three have been discharged and eight were still hospitalized and were receiving treatment.
It should be recalled that early Sunday morning, a few minutes after midnight, a four-storey building located around Mobil Guinness near Ndogbong in Douala collapsed. The incident that occurred while the occupants were sleeping has left 33 people dead. Donald Mbianda, a survivor, explained that the building was showing signs of cracks on the pillars and water was flowing on the bottom. He added that actions were taken a few months ago to reinforce the pillars. He said until Saturday evenin...