Sierra Leone Building Collapse Kills Eight

Rescue efforts are ongoing in Sierra Leone after a seven-story building collapsed in the capital, Freetown, killing at least eight people. The country's National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) reported that six individuals have been pulled from the rubble on Shell New Road, but "more people remain trapped." Some of those still buried beneath the debris have managed to communicate their locations to rescuers, offering hope in the search for more survivors. The building collapsed between 11:00 and 12:00 local time (12:00 and 13:00 BST) on Monday. Among the victims are two girls and a boy, all under five years old. Two cranes are now aiding rescue efforts, with teams earlier seen using picks and their bare hands to clear the wreckage.

Mohamed Camara, a local resident, broke down in tears as he told the AFP news agency that his wife and three children are among those trapped.

The cause of the collapse is under investigation, but the NDMA has revealed that the building was used for both residential and commercial purposes. The agency's head, Brima Sesay, emphasized the need for public awareness about the dangers of using unqualified contractors and poor-quality building materials. Sesay added that the NDMA will continue to conduct vulnerability assessments to prevent future building collapses across the country. Sierra Leone, one of the world's poorest nations, often faces challenges with construction quality due to the use of substandard materials. Facebook Headlines: