Rescuers pulled out three more bodies later Monday after landslides in Cameroon's capital of Yaounde buried homes and buildings on Sunday, bringing the death toll of the disaster to 30, officials said.

National Fire Fighting Brigade in charge of the rescue efforts said that rescue operations were still underway at the disaster site where dozens more are feared trapped under the rubble.

The landslides occurred at 8 p.m., local time, Sunday in the hilly neighbourhood of Mbankolo in Yaounde after a persistent downpour.

It is estimated that 25 houses were swept away by the floods.

Lazard Lethine, a survivor: "I was sleeping and suddenly woke up. Water was everywhere, I was drowning. When I woke up, I saw that the water had already swept everywhere. That's when I still managed to get my mother out with my nephew. That's what happened, where I am now, I'm tired first, I'm tired, it's beyond me. The house has been completely destroyed. As you can see here, it has been completely destroyed, all ravaged. Totally destroyed."

The country's Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji visited the disaster site earlier Monday and said some of those rescued in the tragedy were receiving treatment in the hospital.

Yaounde is one of the wettest cities in Africa, with dozens of steep hills. Heavy rains have triggered several devastating floods throughout the country this year. In November last year, 14 people attending a funeral in Yaounde were killed in a landslide.

STORY: Death toll in Cameroon landslide rises to 30, rescue efforts continuing
DATELINE: Oct. 10, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:58
LOCATION: Yaounde
CATEGORY: OTHERS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the disaster-hit area
2. SOUNDBITE (French): LAZARD LETHINE,  Survivor

STORYLINE:

Rescuers pulled out three more bodies later Monday after landslides in Cameroon's capital of Yaounde buried homes and buildings on Sunday, bringing the death toll of the disaster to 30, officials said.
   
National Fire Fighting Brigade in charge of the rescue efforts said that rescue operations were still underway at the disaster site where dozens more are feared trapped under the rubble.

The landslides occurred at 8 p.m., local time, Sunday in the hilly neighborhood of Mbankolo in Yaounde after a persistent downpour.

It is estimated that 25 houses were swept away by the floods.

SOUNDBITE (French): LAZARD LETHINE,  Survivor
"I was sleeping and suddenly woke up. Water was everywhere, I was drowning. When I woke up, I saw that the water had already swept everywhere. That's when I still managed to get my mother out with my nephew. That's what happened, where I am now, I'm tired first, I'm tired, it's beyond me. The house has been completely destroyed. As you can see here, it has been completely destroyed, all ravaged. Totally destroyed."
   
The country's Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji visited the disaster site earlier Monday and said some of those rescued in the tragedy were receiving treatment in the hospital.
   
Yaounde is one of the wettest cities in Africa, with dozens of steep hills. Heavy rains have triggered several devastating floods throughout the country this year. In November last year, 14 people attending a funeral in Yaounde were killed in a landslide.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Yaounde.
(XHTV)