Heavy rains overcome poor drainage systems, cripple activities in Yaounde

Several activities in Yaoundé, the political capital of Cameroon, have been crippled as dilapidated bridges and poor drainage systems in the city have failed to hold back floods following recent heavy rains.

According to the residents of Nkolbisson Yaoundé, the situation is a result of the “dilapidated, narrow and low nature of some bridges, coupled with the poor drainage systems in the city. When heavy rain falls, the bridge on the road leading to the Catholic University of Central Africa, overflows, and circulation is therefore hindered,” a local told MMI.

The floods are equally said to prevent students from going to school. It is the case with University students residing in Eloumden.

“… didn’t go to school due to floods in my area precisely at Eloumden. Whenever rain falls, we don’t go to school because of this. Muddy road, old bridge floods everywhere,” one of them told MMI.

“You wake up in the morning to go to work, but can not cross the bridge because of water. We have to wait for over 5 hours for this water to go down before we can cross,” a frustrated business person decried.

According to these locals, the flood not only cripples circulation but equally puts their lives and that of their children at risk.

They are calling on the Mayor of Nkolbisson and other competent stakeholders to take proper measures to remedy the situation.

By Amina Hilda