Rescue efforts continue in Sierra Leone as emergency teams search for survivors following the collapse of a seven-storey building in Freetown, which has claimed the lives of at least 10 people.
The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) confirmed that seven individuals have been rescued from the debris on Shell New Road, but “more people remain trapped.”
Some trapped victims have been able to communicate their locations to rescuers.
The building collapsed between 11:00 and 12:00 local time on Monday. Among the victims are two girls and a boy, all under five years old.
Two cranes have been deployed to assist rescue workers, who were initially using picks and their hands to clear the rubble.
A local resident, Mohamed Camara, expressed his grief to AFP, sharing that his wife and three children are among those trapped. The cause of the collapse is still under investigation.
According to initial NDMA assessments, the building housed both residential and commercial spaces.
Brima Sesay, the head of the NDMA, emphasized the importance of raising “public awareness about the risks associated with using unqualified contractors and substandard building materials.”
He also noted that the agency will continue vulnerability assessments to prevent future building collapses in the country, where the use of poor-quality materials is a common issue due to widespread poverty.
Source-BBC
