The three-month-old child was killed when a house collapsed on Sunday in Malimaka, one of several poor, crowded neighbourhoods in the city of 600,000, the Central African Red Cross said.

Several other people were hurt as buildings, constructed mostly of clay and without foundations to support them, tumbled down in the aftermath of wet-season deluges.

The Red Cross said the damage was likely to worsen as cracks had appeared in houses standing in water and weather forecasters were predicting more downpours in the next few days.

Red Cross chief Antoine M'bago Bogo said it was vital proper drainage and sewerage networks were built in the city.

"There are enormous risks of epidemics. Malaria, typhoid and cholera could strike at any moment because the environment is unhealthy," he said.

The landlocked former French colony is one of the world's poorest and most unstable countries and has experienced several coups since independence in

In July, the UN Security Council expressed concern about the deteriorating humanitarian situation and insecurity in the country of 3.7 million and called for help from international donors and banks.

A UN scheme aims to disarm about 6,000 former fighters, many of whom have turned to banditry since the country's return to elected government.

Former general Francois Bozize, who seized power in a coup in March 2003, won a democratic presidential election in May this year.

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