At least 12 people have lost their lives, and five others were injured after a building collapsed in Douala, the largest city in Cameroon.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning, and the number of people inside the four-storey building at the time of the collapse remains unknown. The building fell onto another residential block, triggering a frantic search for survivors in the rubble.

Distressed neighbors reported hearing screams and rushed to help dig out trapped individuals.

Various rescue teams, including the fire brigade and the Red Cross, are currently on-site and actively involved in rescue operations.

The regional governor, Samuel Dieudonné Ivaha Diboua, has assured the public that the situation is under control, and rescue teams are working diligently to ensure no one is trapped under the debris.

At Laquintinie Hospital, three children and ten adults are receiving emergency medical care. Unfortunately, a three-year-old girl brought to the hospital has succumbed to her injuries.

The cause of the building collapse in the Ange Raphael neighborhood of Douala is yet to be determined, but residents have informed journalists that the building appeared to be in a dilapidated state.

While city authorities have been demolishing homes at risk of flooding or landslides, this specific building was not earmarked for demolition.

Cameroon has experienced building collapses in the past, with one incident in 2016 involving a dilapidated building in Douala that did not adhere to construction regulations, resulting in the death of five people.