The major road and railway linking Cameroonian capital Yaounde and the largest city Douala were delinked after the collapse of the road and the derailment of a train linking the two cities on Friday.
The Douala-Yaounde Highway broke away at Matomb on Friday morning after a two-day heavy rainfall. This road is used by landlocked countries including Chad, CAR, Congo and Gabon to conduct economic activities therefore bringing it to a halt.
Hours after the road’s collapse, an overcrowded train derailed killing over 50 people who tried to use the rail to travel from Yaounde to Douala. Over 500 people were injured in the accident that occured at Eseka.
Cameroon’s state media, CRTV, reported before the derailment the congestion at the railway stations in Yaounde and Douala as a result of the blockade of the road linking the cities.
Rescue operations are ongoing as at Saturday morning at the derailment scene where bodies have been sent to neighbouring morgues and others including the injured transported to the Yaounde Central Hospital.
The state-media reported that President Paul Biya has ordered investigation to be carried out, and throughout the night, an access route is under construction to link the two major cities to ease traffic.
As at Saturday morning, 55 have been reported dead and about 600 people injured.
Source: Africanews.com
