Cameroon: 18 Dead, Infant Survives in Horrific Ekona

Witnesses and local authorities confirmed to Cameroon Concord that the crash occurred Tuesday morning when an 18-seater minibus traveling from Buea collided head-on with a heavy-duty truck. All 18 passengers aboard the bus perished on the spot, save for a 9-month-old infant, who miraculously survived and was rushed to hospital.

Photos from the scene showed the bus completely mangled, with victims’ bodies lying by the roadside as rescuers struggled to extract remains from the wreckage.

A familiar tragedy on Cameroonian roads

Road accidents remain one of the leading causes of death in Cameroon, claiming thousands of lives annually. According to data from the Ministry of Transport and WHO estimates, the country records over 16,000 road crashes a year, with an estimated 1,500–2,000 deaths — though the true figure is likely higher due to underreporting.

Analysts blame a combination of factors: poorly maintained roads riddled with potholes, reckless driving, overloading of passenger vehicles, mechanical failures, and lax enforcement of traffic regulations.

The Ekona-Muyuka stretch of road is particularly notorious, as it winds through conflict-affected areas of the Southwest region and is often crowded with trucks, buses, and motorcycles weaving between potholes and checkpoints.

Last year alone, the National Gendarmerie documented over 120 fatalities on the same stretch of highway, prompting calls for urgent safety interventions.

Calls for accountability

Transport unions and civil society organizations have repeatedly urged the government to step up road maintenance, enforce vehicle inspection laws, and discipline drivers who flout speed limits and overload vehicles.

“We see these tragedies every month, and little is done beyond routine condolences,” said a local road safety advocate, adding that the survival of the 9-month-old infant in Tuesday’s crash “is a miracle, but it’s no consolation for the preventable loss of 18 lives.”

What next?

As of Wednesday morning, authorities in Buea had launched an investigation into the latest crash, though previous inquiries into similar accidents have rarely led to substantial policy changes.

Cameroon Concord will continue to follow this story and press for accountability in the face of what has become an epidemic of preventable road carnage in Cameroon.

We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families, and hope this tragedy serves as yet another wake-up call for decisive action to improve road safety nationwide.

Reported by Cameroon Concord Newsroom, Buea/Yaoundé.