Persistent downpour loosened the earth on a hillside above Mbankolo neighborhood of Yaounde, burying the victims as they slept in their houses below, the region's governor, Naseri Paul Bea, told reporters, Xinhua reported.

"As of now, the bodies are still under the ground," Bea said.

Rescue operations were underway and the death toll could increase, according to firefighters at the site.

Yaounde is one of the wettest cities in Africa, with dozens of steep hills. Heavy rains have triggered several devastating floods throughout the country this year.