A violent tornado tore through Government Primary School (GPS) Group Two in Nkambe, Donga-Mantung Division, North West Region of Cameroon, on the afternoon of Sunday, 8 June 2025, reducing six classroom blocks to ruins and rendering the school unusable just days before it was scheduled to host national First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) examinations
While no casualties were recorded, the sheer force of the tornado shocked the local population, many of whom had never witnessed such a weather event in the region. The incident has not only triggered swift emergency responses but also ignited public reflection about natural hazards, climate change, and traditional beliefs.
Speaking from the debris-strewn campus, the Mayor of Nkambe Council, Musa Shey Nfor, described the tornado as “very violent,” noting its complete destruction of the school buildings.
“The school is entirely down,” he confirmed.
Despite the devastation, Mayor Musa Shey expressed relief that no pupils were on campus at the time of the incident.
Mayor Musa Shey Nfor spesking to reporters “Fortunately, material had not yet been brought to the school. We are now relocating benches and other necessities to GPS Group One and the nearby nursery school. This way, everything planned for Group Two will now happen there, ensuring that the children can still take part in the FSLC under safe and decent conditions.” he said
The mayor further stated that emergency teams were working to clear dangerous debris from the area to protect the children who often play around the compound.
“The morale remains high... Teachers are here preparing to receive pupils for the exams starting Tuesday.” he emphasised
The incident occurred on Pentecost Sunday, a coincidence that was not lost on Rev. Fr. Dufe Joseph, a Catholic priest based in Loreto.
Drawing on the liturgical symbolism of the day, Fr. Dufe remarked, “Are we not lucky? No child was logically in school. At Mass that morning, I reminded the Christians how the first reading described the Holy Spirit’s manifestation in catastrophic terms.”
He invited reflection beyond superstition and urged both scientists and theologians to explore the phenomenon more deeply.
“This is an opportunity for geology, geography, even physics and theology students to seek understanding not in fear or myths, but in knowledge. This was a product of atmospheric instability and wind shear terms that may sound foreign here but are increasingly relevant.” he said on a post on his Facebook page
While some locals reportedly attributed the destruction to witchcraft or divine punishment, environmental and meteorological observers argue otherwise. The rare tornado is believed to have been formed due to atmospheric instability, where warm, moist air at ground level rapidly rises into cooler, drier air aloft. When this happens under certain wind conditions, what meteorologists call wind shear, it can produce a spinning column of air that becomes a tornado.
Supercell thunderstorms, often associated with tornadoes, are a product of the same climate patterns that are becoming more frequent due to rising global temperatures. In places like the North West Region of Cameroon, where housing structures are not designed to withstand such forces, the need for climate resilience has never been more urgent.
The aftermath of the tornado was captured in shocking videos circulating on social media. One clip features two eyewitnesses giving live commentary in a mix of Pidgin English and Limbum, their voices a mix of awe and disbelief as the roof of the school is wrenched off and thrown into the sky.
Fr. Dufe challenged locals and faith leaders alike to resist the temptation of interpreting such events through superstition.
“Prayers are important, but understanding and preparation are better responses to natural disasters. This is not about sacrifices or incantations. It’s about planting trees, building stronger structures, and educating our people.” he stated
Despite the wreckage, the FSLC exams has proceeded as scheduled on Tuesday, 10 June and Wednesday, 11 June 2025. The swift response by the local council and education authorities has ensured that alternative arrangements are in place.
As communities in Nkambe clear the rubble and help children prepare for their exams, the broader message remains clear: the weather is changing, and so too must our understanding and readiness. If the skies over Nkambe could speak, they would say that nature is not against us but it demands our attention.
This tornado, a once-unthinkable phenomenon in this part of Cameroon, has not only flattened walls but also broken down the myth that some disasters are beyond human comprehension. Now, the challenge lies in rebuilding not just schools, but awareness and preparedness for the storms ahead.
By Bakah Derick with reports for Hilltopvoices News
Email: hilltopvoicesnewspaper@gmail.com
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