The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) has provided an update on the collapsed seven-storey building at Shell New Road, as rescue efforts continue into the fifth day.
A total of 23 people have been recovered from the rubble, with 15 confirmed fatalities:
– 5 adult males
– 4 adult females
– 2 girls under the age of 5
– 2 boys under the age of 5
– 1 male below the age of 10
– 1 teenage girl
Eight survivors have been rescued, including:
– 3 adult males
– 2 adult females
– 2 boys under the age of 5
– 1 teenage girl
Five survivors who were receiving treatment at Rokupa Hospital have now been discharged, while three others remain under medical care at Choithram Hospital.
The fate of several individuals remains uncertain, as the NDMA confirmed that a 4-year-old child is still missing, and reports indicate that a one-year-old child may also be trapped. Eyewitnesses and neighbors believe that more people could be buried beneath the rubble, though these reports remain unverified.
In a high-level meeting led by Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, key decisions were made to expedite rescue efforts:
1. Families who lost loved ones will be granted access to the deceased for burial.
2. Makeshift structures under the debris will be demolished to enable excavators to access the ground level safely.
3. Engagements will be made with individuals whose structures are impacted by the demolition.
The Sierra Leone Institute of Engineers has pledged technical support for the ongoing operations. In a separate development, NLe55,600 recovered from the site was returned to its rightful owner, Mohamed Jalloh, by Honourable Princess Kadie Darammy and the NDMA.
The NDMA expressed gratitude to various organizations, including the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society, the National Public Health Agency, the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, and the Sierra Leone Police, for their tireless contributions to the rescue efforts.
Private sector companies such as the Gento Group of Companies, Marampa Mines, and Sierra Rutile Limited continue to provide personnel, machinery, and fuel to aid in the response.
The NDMA remains committed to coordinating efforts to recover any remaining victims from the collapsed structure.
