Cameroon: 31 Buildings Identified as Structurally Unsound in Douala, Threatening Collapse

Douala, Cameroon's economic capital, faces a significant urban safety challenge with the identification of 31 buildings deemed structurally unsound and a threat of collapse. The city's urban community services conducted inspections as part of a policy to prevent urban risks, uncovering these dangerous structures.

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The mayor of the city, Roger Mbassa Ndine, presents a series of measures that will be applied to these buildings, namely immediate evacuation, sealing, among others.

Of the 31 buildings, 19 are classified as posing an imminent risk, while the remaining 12 are considered to be at ordinary risk. The factors contributing to their dilapidated state are varied, including a failure to adhere to urban planning rules and construction standards, unauthorized construction work, the use of inappropriate materials, and uncontrolled modifications to existing structures. Prolonged abandonment of some buildings has also led to their deterioration.

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For multiple factors, 31 buildings present structural disorders in the city of Douala. 19 are considered to present an imminent risk and 12 an ordinary risk.

In response to this critical situation, Douala's mayor, Roger Mbassa Ndine, has outlined a series of decisive measures. These include the immediate evacuation of occupants and the sealing of the identified buildings to prevent further access and potential accidents. The mayor emphasized that all construction, extension, modification, or rehabilitation projects must strictly comply with applicable laws and regulations.

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These factors are: non-compliance with urban planning rules and construction standards, execution of work without permits, use of unsuitable materials or uncontrolled modification of existing structures, prolonged abandonment of certain works.

Furthermore, any consolidation or reinforcement work on buildings showing signs of fragility requires a prior technical assessment by qualified professionals. Mayor Mbassa Ndine stated that the specific measures applied to the at-risk buildings will be determined by their assessed level of risk, following necessary technical assessments and expert evaluations. The city aims to mitigate potential disasters and ensure public safety through these interventions.

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The identification of the 31 buildings is the work of the services of the Urban Community of Douala. Which carried out controls as part of the urban risk prevention policy.