Eight people, including two under-five girls and a boy, have been confirmed dead by the National Disaster Management Agency – Sierra Leone (NDMA) following the collapse of a seven-storey building today at Kissy, east of the capital, Freetown.
Six survivors have been rescued while more people are still trapped in the debris, according to NDMA.
The cause of the collapsed building used for residential and business hasn’t been confirmed while rescue efforts are still ongoing.
The building is located in the eastern part of Freetown thought to be used for both residential and commercial purposes, collapsed between 11:00 am and 12:00 pm Monday, September 16, 2024.
However, some engineers blame the poor quality of iron rods that have flooded the market which has caused many recently built structures to collapse, and are calling on the Sierra Leone authorities to monitor the quality of products imported and manufactured within the country.