Rise in Victims of Building Collapse in Cameroon to 34

Cameroon's Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Celestine Ketcha Courtes, announced today, Monday, that "the number of victims from the building collapse in Douala, the country's commercial capital, has risen to 34 dead, after earlier estimates pointed to only 12." The minister stated, "It is unfortunate that the building in question was constructed without a building permit," and mentioned that "an investigation has been opened." She noted that "rescue efforts are ongoing today, Monday, to ensure that no one is trapped under the rubble despite the difficulty in accessing them." The number of people who were in the building at the time of the collapse remains unclear. Residents reported that the building was in a dilapidated state, with rusty iron rods visible.