An 11-year-old student of Lycée Bilingue de la Cité Verte lost his life after floods swept him away at Oyom Abang locality in Nkolbisong, Yaounde, on November 4.
The floods resulted from heavy rainfall that spanned from 5 am to around 7 am that morning. Gutters and streams in the locality overflew, wreaking havoc.
Shortly after the rain stopped, the young boy left for school, choosing to take a shortcut that required him to cross a flooded gutter.
The powerful current pulled him into the water as he attempted to cross, leading to his tragic end.
A young man heroically jumped into the water to save the boy who was swept away.
But he could only find the boy’s lifeless body along the riverbank, after hours of searching.
They subsequently transported his body to the Nnom Nnam Chief’s palace.
Calls for Vigilance
The incident has sparked calls for heightened vigilance among parents, particularly during the rainy season, when flooding is common in Yaoundé’s vulnerable areas like Nkolbissong.
“Under normal circumstances, with heavy rainfall like the one that occurred this morning, children should not be heading out to school,” one local resident remarked, emphasizing the risks associated with flooding in the area.
The Nkolbissong and Oyomabang localities are prone to overflows during intense rains, a recurrent issue for years.
Besides the tragic incident, the recent flooding also caused traffic disruptions in other areas, such as Carrefour Nkolbissong and Caramba, further delaying students and residents.
Community leaders and residents are urging heightened caution during the remainder of the rainy season to prevent further incidents.
