*Several Injured
*2 Trapped
The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) over the weekend received a distress alert about the collapse of a three-storey building under construction at Pentagon, Off Regent Road, Lumley, West of Freetown.
The NDMA response team was deployed to the scene and commenced search and rescue operations. Preliminary findings revealed that the building collapsed while the contractor and his team were actively working on the site.
The collapse, which happened at around 4PM, has left several people injured and others feared trapped beneath the debris.
Eyewitnesses described a sudden, thunderous noise as the structure gave way, sending clouds of dust billowing into the air and triggering immediate efforts by bystanders to assist.
The findings further disclosed that six construction workers were inside the building at the time of the incident. Four managed to escape the rubble with varying degrees of injury. However, the contractor and one of his workers remain trapped beneath the debris.
The NDMA also coordinated engineers from the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) and personnel from the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) who are currently on site leading intensive efforts to locate and rescue the two individuals.
Due to the intensity of the rescue operation, the NDMA has reached out to Paviport and Gento Group of Companies for the availability of heavy-duty equipment to support the rescue operations. Both companies have responded positively by providing an excavator for the operation.
The Freetown City Council (FCC), alongside the RSLAF and SLP, are actively collaborating with NDMA to manage the operation.
The Director General of the NDMA, Lit. Gen. (Rtd) Brima Sesay who was at the scene noted; “Despite we are into the night now, hope remains high that the trapped individuals will be rescued alive.”
The NDMA extends its profound gratitude to the CEO of the Gento group of Companies, Mr. Gento Kamara who was also at the scene, and the first responders (community volunteers) for their tireless effort in helping with the rescue operations.
The NDMA will continue to provide timely updates as the situation unfolds.
Authorities have cordoned off the area to facilitate the rescue operation and ensure public safety. Meanwhile, it remains unclear what caused the building to collapse, though officials suspect poor construction practices may have played a role.
