The incident is attributed to an on-going construction of a storey at the high risk zone. The stone-laid iron-grilled wall of the small mountain alongside two houses at the entrance to the Douala Sea Port was cleaved by a small crack only a few inches wide. Constant runoffs from adjoining houses further deepen and widened the crack turning the zone to a high risk zone. This was the beginning of a natural catastrophe, one that is still unfolding at an excruciating slow pace. The construction of a mansion on top the mountain and across the main gutter into which emptied all runoffs from the neighbourhood has accelerated the risk into a landslide, forming a precipice susceptible more slides. Early this week, sections of soil slipped downhill cutting up a section of the stone-laid wall forming a precipice that is gradually edging towards homes. The mass of earth also took rocks and grasses along with it. Two block houses and their fences are now under risk, standing on the edge above.

This is the second time the area is slipping downhill. The first mudslide occurred a few months ago when the technicians began laying the foundation of the mansion. One worker of the construction company was seriously injured and rushed to hospital. Local association, Human Rights and Citizens’ Protection Association, cried foul, deploying security detectives to the site. It seemed adequate measures were not taken even though constructions continued until early this week when another section of the earth slipped closer to the entrance to the Sea Port. Association President, Prince Raoul Nasser Kemajou, points out that unlike the landslide that occur in a rush as debris break loose, usually after a heavy downpour, this one is occurring incrementally. No technician was on hand to comment on the issue.

The situation is precarious that the rights leader and geologist holds that other home owners, a total of four have so far been affected. While the next motion cannot be determined, the geologist is wary about the workers constructing the gutter and attempting to set up wall to hold back the earth, saying occasionally a boulder is loosened and sent rushing down the slope. Douala is an area of smaller but still costly landslides. The high peaks around the Sea Port have been found to be particularly susceptible to the slides because of loose soil deposited on bedrock formed by sediments in zones of littoral thousands of years ago. Geologists hold that it is theoretically possible to mitigate slow slides through extensive construction of stone-laid concrete walls.