By Sulaiman Jalloh

As the search and rescue mission continues at the collapsed seven-storied building in Freetown, the Director General of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Brima Sesay has said seven more people have been recovered, noting among them one teenager is alive.  Vice President Dr. Mohammed Juldeh Jalloh on Tuesday 17, September 2024 visited the site and promised government support to provide free medical care for those admitted to the hospitals and to increase resource while the search and rescue process continues.

In an interview with Expo Times, the NDMA boss said the rescue mission is ongoing because they have reached the depth of the building and that it is difficult to work, especially under the rains. He said on the day marking the fourth day since the building collapsed, there were twenty-three people were pulled from the ruble recording fifteen loss of lives. “We have a total of twenty-three people recovered, eight of them are alive and are responding to treatment while fifteen are dead,” he confirmed, adding that more resources and manpower have been mobilized as he called on everyone to pay attention to their environment. For him, many people are living dangerous lives due to the places the live in and how they construct their structures.

It could be recalled that, in the early hours of Monday, September 16, 2024, there was a report of a seven-storied building collapsed at Shell New Road, east Freetown.

“There are certain areas you don’t have to construct a house in,” he advised.

The Director General however thanked the Government of Sierra Leone, Marampa Mining Limited, Sierra rutile, Gento Group of Companies, and Rebublic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces for providing the needed support for the search and rescue process.

On behalf of President Julius Maada Bio, Vice President Dr. Mohammed Juldeh Jalloh on Tuesday 17, September, 2024, visited the site and promised government’s support to the victims and families of the deceased.