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

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.