No fewer than eight people have lost their lives after a seven-storey building collapsed in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
The West African country’s National Disaster Management Agency reported that six survivors have been pulled from the rubble, but several more remain trapped as rescue operations are ongoing.
According to the BBC, the collapse occurred on Monday between 11:00 and 12:00 on Shell New Road in eastern Freetown.
Among the victims are three children under five years old. Rescue workers are racing against time, aided by two cranes, as they sift through the debris using picks and bare hands.
Local resident Mohamed Camara expressed his grief, telling reporters that his wife and three children are among those still buried under the wreckage.
The cause of the collapse is under investigation, but initial assessments reveal that the building was being used for residential and commercial purposes. NDMA head Brima Sesay highlighted concerns about the widespread use of unqualified contractors and substandard materials, which may have contributed to the disaster.
He called for greater public awareness and stricter building standards to prevent future incidents.
Sesay also emphasized the need for ongoing vulnerability assessments to reduce the frequency of building collapses nationwide.
Sierra Leone, one of the world’s poorest nations, frequently faces challenges in construction safety due to the use of low-quality materials.
Rescue teams are working around the clock, with hopes that more survivors can still be found.
