The city mayor, Roger Mbassa Ndine, presents a series of measures that will apply to these buildings, namely immediate evacuation, sealing, among others.
For multiple factors, 31 buildings show structural disorders in the city of Douala. 19 are considered to present an imminent risk and 12 an ordinary risk. These factors are: non-compliance with urban planning rules and construction standards, execution of work without proper authorization, use of unsuitable materials or uncontrolled modification of existing structures, prolonged abandonment of certain works.
Read more Crisis at Groupe Castel: the board of directors supports Grégory Clerc despite his dismissal
The identification of the 31 buildings is the work of the services of the Douala Urban Community. They conducted inspections as part of the urban risk prevention policy.
Faced with the situation, the city mayor reminds that construction, extension, elevation, substantial modification or rehabilitation of buildings must comply with applicable laws and regulations. Likewise, consolidation or reinforcement work on a structure showing signs of fragility must be preceded by a technical expertise carried out by qualified professionals.
Read more Cameroon/4th RGPH: the government adds 45 days to count the remaining 40% of the population
Thus, according to the mayor, measures will be applied to buildings threatening collapse identified according to their level of risk. These may include technical findings and necessary expert assessments; notification of owners, occupants or operators concerned of prescribed measures and deadlines for execution; implementation of security and reinforcement prescriptions; immediate evacuation of buildings presenting an imminent danger to people; sealing or any other conservatory measure intended to prevent risks; demolition of works declared irrecoverable or whose owners have not complied with administrative prescriptions within the allotted time.
The super mayor calls on real estate developers to comply with administrative prescriptions and invites the population to report any building showing signs of deterioration such as cracks, subsidence, abnormal tilting, unusual creaking… these operations come as the city has just recorded building collapses causing several deaths.
