Ensuring Human Safety in the Disaster Prone Coastal Town of Limbe, Cameroon

Sunday Shende Kometa

doi:10.5539/jgg.v4n2p156

Abstract

Limbe in Fako Division of the South West region of Cameroon is located in an active and dynamic coastal zone characterized by geological, geophysical, geomorphologic and climatic hazards. This paper examines the nature and occurrence of hazards in this region with the objectives to recommend measures for ensuring human safety within this dynamic environment. The frequency of volcanic eruptions, seismic activities, landslides, flooding and coastal erosion has had adverse consequences on human lives, property and the environment in the city. In this regard, human occupation of high-risk zones (hill slopes, floodplains, and coastal lowlands) is the source of problems of habitation in this region. Based on the concept of urbanisation, vulnerability and exposure to risk, and using the DR – Disaster Risk Index, drainage, relief, topographic maps, risk zones were identified. This paper recommends the evacuation of people from some of these risk zones and in other relocating. These hazard prone areas do not only require careful policy planning but also require a rigorous implementation of the strategic master plan of the city.

Highlights

The beginning of the second half of the Twentieth Century was a turning point in the process of urbanisation in most Third World countries in general and Sub-Saharan African countries in particular
This paper examines the nature and occurrence of hazards in this region with the objectives to recommend measures for ensuring human safety within this dynamic environment
If we look at the epicenters of most of the recorded earthquakes around the Mount Cameroon, a good number of these are located close to Limbe

Summary

Introduction

The beginning of the second half of the Twentieth Century was a turning point in the process of urbanisation in most Third World countries in general and Sub-Saharan African countries in particular. The urban population in this region of the world increased from less than 20% at the beginning of this period to about 50% today (United Nation Development program, 2006). This unprecedented rate of urbanisation has been associated with the increasing concentration of population in cities and significant transformations of the urban landscapes with the emergence of structures as well as activities that put the population at risk where geological, geomorphological and climatic components come into play (Goudie, 1990). The causes of this rapid urbanisation are related to the decline in the profitability of rural livelihood activities like the sustained fall in commodity prices, scarcity of farmland, and the attraction of city life all of which conspired to push out millions of rural dwellers to start a new life in towns and cities

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