By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara
The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) has confirmed that three people, including a five-year-old girl, her mother, and her grandmother, lost their lives following devastating floods and structural collapse caused by heavy rainfall that battered Freetown in the early hours of Monday, 3 August 2026.
The Agency also confirmed that two children remain missing after flash floods swept through the Portor community in Juba, while more than 300 houses have been destroyed or severely affected, leaving hundreds of residents displaced.
According to the NDMA, the torrential rainfall lasted for approximately six to seven hours, triggering widespread flash flooding, severe erosion, and slope failures across several parts of the capital, particularly in low-lying and hillside communities.
One of the hardest-hit areas was Portor in Juba, where floodwaters inundated more than 300 homes, destroying household property and forcing families to flee to safety. Rescue teams and local authorities are continuing search operations for two children who were swept away during the flooding.
The disaster has also created a serious public health concern after eight community boreholes the main source of drinking water for residents were contaminated by floodwaters.
Authorities have warned residents against using the affected water sources until they are declared safe.
In another tragic incident at the Metchem community, a compound wall near a building commonly known as the Kailahun Court Barray collapsed under the impact of the heavy rains. The collapse killed three members of the same family a five-year-old girl, her mother, and her grandmother who were living beneath the structure. Their bodies have since been conveyed to the mortuary.
Meanwhile, at 44 Femi Turner Drive, intense soil erosion caused the collapse of a perimeter wall, resulting in three vehicles being washed away by the force of the floodwaters. No fatalities were reported in that incident, but the destruction highlighted the increasing risks posed by unstable slopes and poor drainage infrastructure during the rainy season.
The NDMA said it has deployed emergency response teams to assess the damage, support affected families, and coordinate rescue and relief operations with other government agencies and humanitarian partners.
The latest disaster adds to growing concerns over the vulnerability of many communities in Freetown to seasonal flooding, especially in areas with inadequate drainage systems, unplanned settlements, and construction on unstable hillsides.
Authorities are urging residents living in flood-prone and high-risk communities to remain vigilant, heed safety warnings, and evacuate immediately whenever there are signs of rising water levels or potential structural failure.
As rescue efforts continue, humanitarian assistance is expected to be mobilised for displaced families, while government agencies undertake further assessments to determine the full extent of the destruction and the immediate needs of affected communities.
The tragedy serves as another stark reminder of the urgent need for improved urban planning, stronger flood mitigation measures, and greater public awareness to reduce the devastating impact of extreme weather events across Sierra Leone.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 5th August 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
