A tragic road accident in western Cameroon has resulted in the deaths of eight people, with 62 others injured, local authorities confirmed on Wednesday. The accident occurred overnight on the outskirts of Dschang, along a notorious stretch of road known as “the cliff,” which has a grim reputation for fatal crashes.
The large vehicle involved was traveling toward Douala, Cameroon’s largest city, when it reportedly malfunctioned and veered into a ravine, carrying its numerous passengers with it, according to state radio CRTV.
At around 3:00 a.m., Dschang regional hospital received the injured and confirmed the fatalities, according to hospital director Michel Noubom. Among the injured were eight children, though local public health official Daouda Chimoun stated that their conditions are no longer life-threatening.
This accident follows a pattern of deadly incidents on this road. In June, four people lost their lives in a similar accident at the Dschang “cliff,” and in January 2018, 21 people were killed in another crash on the same stretch.
Cameroon’s roads are among the most dangerous in Africa, with over 6,000 people dying annually in traffic accidents, according to the World Bank and the World Health Organization. This translates to a rate of more than 30 deaths per 100,000 people, placing Cameroon among the continent’s deadliest countries to drive in. However, Cameroonian government figures are significantly lower, with a transport ministry report indicating 963 road deaths in 2021.