The collapse of a seven-storey building in Freetown, Sierra Leone’s capital, on Monday, resulted in the deaths of at least eight individuals, according to confirmation from the National Disaster Management Agency.
Rescuers are tirelessly searching for survivors after a devastating collapse of a seven-storey building.
The incident, which occurred on Monday between 11:00 and 12:00 local time (12:00 and 13:00 BST), has claimed the lives of at least eight people, including two girls and a boy, all under the age of five.
The National Disaster Management Agency reported that six individuals have been pulled from the debris on Shell New Road so far.
However, the situation remains dire, with “more people remain[ing] trapped” and some survivors able to communicate their locations to rescuers.
The building, which served both residential and commercial purposes, is under scrutiny as the cause of the collapse is still being investigated.
Local resident Mohamed Camara, who was visibly distraught, shared with AFP that his wife and three children are among those trapped beneath the rubble.
In response to the tragedy, two cranes have been deployed to assist the rescue operations, supplementing the efforts of teams who initially relied on picks and their bare hands to clear the wreckage.
NDMA’s head, Brima Sesay, highlighted the urgent need to enhance “public awareness about the risks associated with using unqualified contractors and substandard building materials.”
He emphasized that the agency would persist in conducting vulnerability assessments to mitigate the risk of future building collapses.
In a country where poverty is widespread and construction often involves substandard materials, such efforts are crucial for improving safety standards.
This tragic event underscores the broader issues facing Sierra Leone, where the quality of construction materials and the competence of contractors are pressing concerns that demand immediate attention.
