By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara

Two workers have reportedly died following a mudslide at the FB Group construction site in Lungi, where workers were engaged in underground pipe installation as part of ongoing construction activities.

The incident reportedly occurred at the construction site of the International Conference Centre complex, which includes a hotel project being developed near Freetown International Airport in Lungi.

According to sources familiar with the incident, four workers employed by FB Group were trapped beneath soil while attempting to install an underground pipe. The workers were reportedly carrying out the installation when the soil suddenly collapsed, leaving them buried at the site.

Rescue efforts were subsequently launched, and all four workers were reportedly removed from beneath the soil before being rushed to Lungi Government Hospital for emergency medical attention.

However, sources said two of the workers later succumbed to injuries sustained during the incident.

The deceased are reportedly a Sierra Leonean national and a Senegalese national. The identities of the two workers had not been officially released at the time of publication.

The remaining two workers were reportedly transferred to Freetown for further medical treatment, amid concerns over the severity of injuries sustained during the collapse.

The incident has raised fresh concerns about safety measures at construction sites, particularly where workers are involved in underground excavation and pipe-installation activities.

Such operations can expose workers to serious risks, including soil collapse and being trapped underground, making adequate protective measures and proper excavation procedures critical to ensuring workers’ safety.

The circumstances surrounding the reported mudslide remain unclear. It is not immediately known whether the soil collapse was linked to the condition of the ground, excavation procedures, weather conditions or other factors at the construction site.

FB Group is currently involved in the construction of the International Conference Centre complex in Lungi, including the hotel component of the project.

The company had not issued an official statement confirming the incident, the number of workers affected or the reported deaths at the time of publication.

It is also unclear whether relevant government authorities have commenced an investigation into the incident or whether any immediate safety measures have been ordered at the construction site.

The reported deaths are likely to heighten calls for stricter enforcement of occupational health and safety standards on major construction projects, particularly those involving excavation and other high-risk activities.

Construction workers often operate in environments where accidents can occur within seconds, making proper risk assessments, protective equipment, safe excavation practices and effective emergency-response arrangements essential.

Meanwhile, further details are expected to emerge as the company and relevant authorities provide official information on the incident.

The condition of the two surviving workers and the precise circumstances that led to the reported soil collapse also remain subjects of concern.

Until an official account is released, details surrounding the incident, including the exact cause of the mudslide and the final number of casualties, remain based on preliminary reports from sources familiar with the incident.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 17th August 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)