The death toll from a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall in Cameroon’s West Region has reached 11, local officials confirmed on Friday.

The incident, which occurred on a steep hillside in La Falaise near Dschang Town, initially claimed four lives on Tuesday. Three passenger buses, road equipment, and several workers were buried in the slide, and local sources report that over 50 people may still be trapped beneath the debris.

Governor of the West Region, Augustine Fonka Awa, announced the latest developments, stating, "We recovered seven corpses today, making a total of 11. Heavy road equipment has been removed from the debris, and excavation efforts are continuing." He noted that the recovered bodies were in an “advanced state of decomposition,” underscoring the challenging conditions rescue teams face.

Family members of the missing continue to wait anxiously for news. Emmeline Wakam, whose mother’s body was among those found, said, “They have recovered the body of my mother. We are still waiting for that of my grandmother and brother, who are still in the rubble.”

In recent days, parts of Cameroon have seen torrential rainfall, leading to extensive flooding and triggering landslides in several regions. Residents along the road connecting the commercial hub of Douala to Dschang have long warned about the landslide risks along the winding, mountainous route.

Rescue efforts are ongoing as authorities work to clear the debris and search for survivors. (ILKHA)