A four-story building under construction collapsed on June 3 in the Bépanda Omnisports neighborhood of Douala, raising fresh concerns about construction oversight in Cameroon’s largest city.
According to initial information released by city authorities, several people may have been trapped beneath the rubble. Rescue efforts involving the Douala City Council's technical teams, firefighters, and local residents were still underway at the time of publication.
No official casualty toll had yet been released. In a statement, Douala Mayor Roger Mbassa Ndine said authorities were focused on securing the site, preventing further accidents, and continuing search and rescue operations.
Beyond the immediate emergency, however, the collapse has revived a key question: how was construction allowed to continue on a site that had reportedly been placed under an administrative suspension order?
A Site Already Under Suspension
According to the city government, municipal police officers sealed the construction site on May 29. Authorities allege that the developer later broke the official seals and resumed work despite the suspension order and safety requirements.
That account, provided by municipal officials, will ultimately need to be confirmed through administrative, technical, or judicial investigations.
The incident once again highlights persistent weaknesses in construction oversight across Douala. Rapid urban growth, rising land values, and strong demand for housing have fueled a construction boom in recent years, making it increasingly difficult for authorities to monitor compliance with building regulations.
Cameroon already has a legal framework governing urban development and construction. Law No. 2004/003 of April 21, 2004 regulates land use and urban planning, while a 2016 decree establishes detailed construction standards and land-use rules.
In principle, all building projects must obtain the required permits and comply with administrative and technical regulations before construction begins.
In his statement, the mayor reminded developers, property owners, and residents of their obligation to follow these rules. Violations can result in construction stoppages, administrative penalties, and, in some cases, demolition orders.
A Recurring Problem
The latest collapse comes less than three years after another deadly building disaster in Douala.
On July 23, 2023, the collapse of a residential building in the city killed dozens of people, triggering national outrage and prompting government directives aimed at strengthening compliance with construction standards. At the time, authorities announced tougher inspections of building permits, construction sites, and structures considered unsafe.
Yet the Bépanda collapse suggests many of those challenges remain unresolved. The issue extends beyond the actions of individual developers. It also raises broader questions about the ability of municipal and administrative authorities to enforce their own decisions, monitor high-risk construction sites, and prevent work from continuing after violations have been identified.
In a city where construction remains a major source of investment and employment, each new collapse further erodes confidence in the system responsible for ensuring building safety. Developers, contractors, engineering firms, municipal services, and government agencies all play a role in that chain of oversight.
As rescue efforts continue in Bépanda, the tragedy is once again fueling calls for stricter inspections, stronger enforcement, and greater accountability across Cameroon’s construction sector.
Patricia Ngo Ngouem