At least thirty-three people have lost their lives after a four-storey block collapsed onto another residential building in Doula Cameroon on Saturday night.

According to AFP, the neighbours fear more bodies are lying under the ruins of the collapsed building.

According to a senior fire officer, twenty-one other people are injured 21 while five are in critical condition, saying the toll could rise.

Rescuers were still trying to clear the rubble with a digger after seeking survivors throughout Sunday and into Monday.

"The situation is under control and firefighters are working to ensure no one remains under the rubble."

Littoral region governor Samuel Dieudonne Ivaha Diboua said Sunday during a visit to the site.

Douala's Laquintinie hospital on Sunday said it had taken in 13 patients, two of whom -- a three-year-old girl and a woman aged 19 -- had died.

"The toll could still go up," said computer scientist Prosper Tchinda, who was one of the first on the scene on Sunday.

In 2016, five people died in similar circumstances in Douala when authorities blamed the poor state of repairs and apparent violations of building regulations.

In June of that year, local authorities identified 500 buildings in danger of collapse.