A terrible fire accident at Susan’s Bay on Wednesday 24th March, 2021 left the entire community burnt to the ground, millions of leones missing, thousands of residents displaced, dozens of residences badly affected and hundreds of children missing and separated from their parents.

Despite the cause of the fire outbreak is still unknown on to press time, reports have confirmed that twelve children were at the Family Supports Unit (FSU) at the Eastern Police Division.

Other reports say some other children might have boarded boats moored on the wharf.

Onlookers say there was no access for the fire service as a 6 storey building under construction at the Guinea Store entrance to Susan’s Bay blocked what access there would previously have been from that end.

Freetown Mayor, Her Worship Yvonne Aki– Sawyer after visiting the scene of disaster said: “Disaster risk reduction cannot happen without effective urban planning and a building permit regime which is focused on reducing environmental and man-made risks. Local councils are best placed to deliver these mandates and even as we once again face disasters like this terrible fire, we trust that devolution of land use planning and building permit issuance will happen soon. We believe that this will through policy design help to mitigate against these disasters. Please join us in praying for the victims”.