Flash Floods from Mount Cameroon Attributed to Climate Change

Powerful flash floods which raced through the streets in Buea, on 18 March 2023 are a tragic reminder of the harmful effects of climate change on vulnerable communities. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), floods will displace an average of 2.7 million people in Africa and flood-related costs could increase tenfold by 2050, to $60 billion a year, in the 136 largest coastal cities and in some flood-prone zones. The haphazard cutting down of trees at the slopes of Mount Cameroon?means?water is not drawn up into the vegetation and saturates the soil instead. The wet mud then slides off the side of the mountain. The flash floods have caused significant damage to the affected areas and have left many families homeless. Two persons were official confirmed dead after being dragged by flood water and several injured. Eyewitness account talk of fifteen. As extreme weather events become more frequent and intense, it is critical that governments and communities work together to strengthen infrastructure and develop effective disaster response strategies.

Meanwhile Government officials has blamed the residents for violating rules on construction and the environment. The Governor of Southwest?Region, Bernard Okalia Bilai has blamed the incident on the local population, accusing them of being undisciplined and violators of laws put down to protect the environment by the Ministry of Environment, Protection of Nature and Sustainable Development (MINEPDED). ‘People built their homes in areas known to be prone to floods. They cut down trees which makes mudslides more likely, he said. The Governor further averred that it was hard to predict when rain might cause a mudslide, as there was often a delay between the rainfall and the resulting flood of debris. ‘We are in a risky zone, we are at the foot of the mountain, and the mountain has its waterways. When it rains up there, we don’t know, that water remains there for a week or days before it comes down,’ he added.

According to the?Buea Mayor, David Mafany,?‘a terrifying mudslide that slipped off the side of Mount Cameroon and flowed into the town of Buea, might not have been so damaging if the local population did not defy rules laid down about where they build their houses, and how they exploit natural resources. He has embarked demolition of?houses blocking water channels on Mount Cameroon.as short term solution.?‘As a long-term solution, we will get a permanent team that will prevent construction on this risky zone and create a complete water channel. It’s true everybody wants a shelter, but at the same time, it should not pose a risk to other lives,’ he warned. The Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji?and the Governor of Southwest?Region, Bernard Okalia Bilai witnessed the demolition exercise. The Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji?carried along biscuits, sugar, soap, bread and sardines as humanitarian assistance to victims.

Mount Cameroon is one of Africa’s largest active volcanoes, looming over 4,000 metres above sea level. It is the highest point in Sub-Saharan West and Central Africa, and it is thought at least 500,000 people live on the slopes of its foothills.?Buea is a city of around 300,000 inhabitants located on the eastern slopes of Mount Cameroon. Observers noted that the heavy rainfall on 18 March flowed down the steep slopes and into residential and business areas of the city pulling down electric poles and demolishing houses. The walls of the office Synod Clerk of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon were also reported to have been affected.

The poor drainage infrastructure in the city was unable to cope with the volume of water, exacerbating the impact of the floods. It is worth noting that Buea experienced flooding in similar circumstances in March 2020, yet the authorities failed to take concrete action to prevent future occurrence. The situation is of great concern to the authorities now, who are currently assessing the extent of the damage and the number of people affected. Emergency services are working to provide support to the affected communities, including food, shelter, and medical care for those injured. The government has also promised to provide support to those who have lost their homes and possessions as a result of the floods. While the immediate priority is to provide support to those affected by the floods, it is also essential to learn from this event to mitigate future risks and prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.? ?????

? By Livinus Njume Esambe (PhD)