Sierra Leone authorities are dealing with the aftermath of a hilltop collapsing in Freetown.
(Mirror Daily, United States) – Sierra Leone is currently facing a desperate situation caused by a recent series of heavy flooding which led to mudslides and a hillside collapsing.
On Monday, August 14, a hillside collapsed in Regent, a mountain town near Freetown, during heavy rains. These latter are also held as the cause behind a series of mudslides which have turned deadly.
According to official reports released Tuesday, more than 300 people were killed by these natural disasters. Another 700 are also still missing as rescue teams are looking for survivors. The British Red Cross reported that its volunteers have already saved 71 people from the mud and the debris.
Sierra Leone Might be Hit by Even More Weather-Related Disasters
The full extent of the damage brought on by the heavy rains is still unknown. This is because the rains are also causing disruptions in the electricity and communication lines. It is known that the downpour has so far caused heavy flooding, mudslides, and the collapse of the hilltop.
“In places, entire communities seem to have been washed away and whatever is left is covered in mud,” stated Abdul Nasir, the program coordinator for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Alex Carle, the British Red Cross director of international programs also stated that “Although a full picture of the damage is still emerging, reports indicate that the situation in and around Freetown is extremely serious.”
Carle then continues by saying that, according to reports, more than a hundred houses have been affected by the hilltop collapse. Some of these were allegedly completely submerged.
Sierra Leone Red Cross volunteers as well as British Red Cross ones are assisting the local government in its search and rescue situations.
The United Nations migration agency also declared on August 15 that will be releasing $150,000 as an emergency first-response aid.
The situation could get even worse as many fear the spread of diseases such as typhoid and cholera, among others, as a result of the flooding.
Image Source: Wikimedia
Matthew Slotkin
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