Tejan Rogers, AYV News

May 12, 2023

The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) has warned residents across Sierra Leone to join in preventing further disasters during rains. The warning came after recent torrential rains that killed 15, causing multiple injuries, damage to properties worth millions of leones countrywide.

Director of Communications at the National Disaster Management Agency, Mohamed L. Bah said on Saturday 6th May, 2023, the Agency received a report of an old cotton tree that fell on an Ataya Base that was constructed underneath it and killed 6 people including one personnel attached to the Operations and Supports Depart (OSD) of the Sierra Leone Police.

Mr. Bah said the incident also left 13 people injured and destroyed the businesses of 5 traders in Dalakuru village, Diang chiefdom, Koinadugu district.

He said the tree that was centrally located in the town was used by traders and miners to do business and relax after their daily mining activities.

The NDMA, Mr. Bah went on, was quick to dispatch its Northern Region team to the scene and facilitated the removal of the corpses and clearing of the debris through a mining company operating in the district.

“The team also visited the bereaved families and provided psychosocial and relief support for their loss. The NDMA also received reports of heavy windstorms that completely blew away roofs of homes and public facilities in Yiraia and Firawa villages.

“While assessment is currently ongoing to ascertain the victims and their losses, the NDMA has temporarily distributed tarpaulins to the affected population to cushion the effect”. Mr. Bah explained.

He added that on Tuesday 9th May, 2023, a distressing call was received from residents living at Old Road community, Mile 13 along the Peninsula of a collapsed six-storey building and that there were people trapped underneath.

A team from the NDMA immediately visited the scene and swiftly advised the neighbours within to voluntarily relocate to safer places with a warning of further disturbances.

A few nearby structures were also smashed underneath the building.

Mr. Bah further confirmed that the Director General of the National Disaster Management Agency and team visited the site on Wednesday 10th May, 2023 and put in place mechanisms for a search and rescue exercise that was led by Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF).

He added that during the search and rescue operations, 3 dead bodies were recovered from the rubble and that the NDMA is also working to engage the Ministry of Works and Public Assets to conduct a full investigation into the incident and make their findings public to deter further re-occurrence.

“On Wednesday 10th May, 2023, the capital city Freetown experienced a heavy downpour of rain leaving several communities experiencing flash floods.

“The NDMA has recorded an incident of a collapsed fence along the Leone Oil Facility in Kissy leading to minor damage to a nearby property. There were no injuries or fatalities from this incident.

“At Bankole Community (Moa Wharf), there was a reported collapse of a perimeter fence into five apartments leaving six (6) people dead and two critically injured” Mr. Bah explained.

He assured that the NDMA is now working with partners to speedily provide medical support to the two injured and that a team has already been deployed to assess the impacts for further actions.

The NDMA will want the public to know that the Agency commenced its 2023 flood mitigation interventions in October 2022 wherein the Agency, with support from Concern Worldwide constructed a 143-meter-long drainage at Water Street Wellington and embarked on the clearing of major drainages in Freetown.

The Agency has also undertaken intensive flood mitigation exercises in Cockle Bay, Kolleh Town and other flood-prone communities in the city.

The NDMA has also received reports of other minor incidents across the country. It has dispatched its regional teams to the various scenes to conduct assessments for prompt intervention.

The public is hereby encouraged to report all incidents of disasters within their communities through our 1199 toll-free line using Africell or visit our 64 Sir Samuel Lewis Road head office in Aberdeen and are advised to stop throwing waste into drainages.

The public is also advised to trim all weak branches close to their houses during the rains and those living in low-lying areas should move to high grounds.