MATSAPHA – A Cameroonian delegate attending an international weather satellite forum in Eswatini died on Wednesday after collapsing and being rushed to hospital, the government has confirmed.
The man, whose name has not been released, was attending the 17th European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) User Forum in Africa, taking place in Matsapha this week.
Acting government spokesperson Thabile Mdluli said the delegate collapsed on Wednesday morning. The event’s health team attended to him before taking him to hospital.
“On arrival, his condition rapidly deteriorated, and he passed on,” Mdluli said in a statement.
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The government did not disclose the cause of death, the man’s age or the hospital where he was treated.
Family informed as repatriation is arranged
Mdluli said the delegate’s family had been notified and arrangements were being made to return his remains to Cameroon.
“Government is working closely with the bereaved family and the relevant authorities in Cameroon to facilitate the repatriation of his remains,” she said.
The government extended its condolences to his family, friends and colleagues, as well as the government and people of Cameroon.
Forum focuses on weather monitoring and early warnings
The forum runs from 5 to 9 October and is organised in partnership with the Eswatini Meteorological Service, which falls under the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs.
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According to EUMETSAT, about 150 participants were expected to attend, including heads of national meteorological and hydrological services and representatives of regional organisations.
Held every two years in a different African country, the invitation-only gathering provides an opportunity for weather services to discuss their use of satellite observations.
This year’s discussions focus on data from the new Meteosat Third Generation satellites and its applications in severe weather warnings, climate services, water monitoring and agriculture.
EUMETSAT is the intergovernmental organisation responsible for operating Europe’s meteorological satellites. Its data is distributed to African weather services through a network of satellite reception stations across the continent.
