Freetown Mourns Again
By: Bonnke Fofanah
A total number of ten people have been confirmed dead and some are still trapped beneath the debris, this is as a result of a fatal accident that took place on Monday, 16th September 2024, in which a building located at 57 Bai Bureh Road, Shell New Road collapsed.
The building, owned by Bailor Barrie, a non-resident of Sierra Leone, was used for both residential and commercial purposes, according to initial assessments and eyewitness accounts.
Thus far, fourteen survivors have been rescued from the rubble, while ten victims have been confirmed dead (three adult males, two adult females, two young girls under five, and one young boy under five). The NDMA has confirmed that more people remain trapped beneath the debris, with some able to communicate their locations to rescuers.
Due to the magnitude of the incident, the NDMA, in collaboration with the Freetown City Council (FCC) and other partners, has secured two private cranes to assist with the ongoing rescue operations.
The NDMA and its partners remain committed to the rescue efforts, hoping to recover more victims trapped beneath the collapsed structure.
Lt. Gen. (Rtd.) Brima Sesay, Director General of the NDMA, who has been on-site since the incident occurred, reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to raising public awareness about the risks associated with using unqualified contractors and substandard building materials. He also emphasized that the NDMA will continue conducting vulnerability assessments to help reduce the frequency of building collapses across the country.
