Rescuers in Sierra Leone are still searching for survivors after a seven-storey building collapsed in the capital Freetown, killing at least eight people.
The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) in the West African country said that so far six people have been rescued from the debris on Shell New Road, but “many people are still trapped”.
It also said that some of those who were in the rubble “were able to communicate with their places” and the rescuers.
The building east of Freetown collapsed between 11:00 and 12:00 local time (12:00 and 13:00 BST) on Monday, the NDMA said. Two girls and one boy – all under the age of five – are among the victims.
Two cranes were brought in to assist the rescue team, who were earlier seen using picks and their hands to try to remove the debris.
Local resident Mohamed Camara broke down in tears when he told AFP that his wife and three children were trapped in the rubble.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
The building was used for both residential and commercial purposes, according to a preliminary assessment by the NDMA.
The head of the organization, Brima Sesay, stressed the need to sensitize the public on the dangers associated with using unqualified contractors and substandard construction materials”.
He also said that his organization “will continue to conduct risk assessments to help reduce the frequency of building collapses across the country”.
Sierra Leone is one of the poorest countries in the world, and buildings are often built with low-quality materials.
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