The National Disaster
Management Agency (NDMA) has released an update on the collapse of the seven-story building at Kissy, Bai Bureh Road, Freetown, on September 16th, 2024.
The update shows that, as of September 18,2024, there have been a total number of twelve fatalities recorded so far. The update states that the twelve fatalities consist of four adult males, three adult females, two girls under the age of five, and three boys under the age of five.
Additionally, according to the NMDA report, they have successfully recovered seven survivors, all of whom are presently undergoing treatment at Choitrams and Rekupa hospitals. The agency asserts that more people are likely trapped beneath the rubble, and they are collaborating with various agencies, including the Gento Group of Companies, JP Logistics, and Marampa Mines, in addition to other rescue teams, to remove debris from the third floor in order to gain access to lower levels where additional residents may be holed up.
The agency added that one of their biggest challenges is the lack of access to the ground level, but however, excavators and cranes are working from the top, lifting heavy debris and clearing broken floors to reach the lower levels.