In the early hours of Monday morning, heavy rain struck Sierra Leone’s capital city of Freetown. Although the country is prone to flooding, no one could have predicted the devastation that these particular floods would bring.
As heavy flooding persisted, thought to be the worst in Africa over the past two decades, a devastating mud slide occurred, which has reportedly claimed the lives of almost 300 people, while a further 600 people remain missing.
According to the Guardian, Freetown’s mayor, Sam Gibson had said 270 corpses had been recovered and were “being prepared for burial”, while the chief coroner told Reuters that nearly 400 bodies had been found. There are various conflicting reports on the estimated numbers of the missing and dead with the Red Cross reporting that 600 people have not been traced, while the country’s interior minister has said thousands are unaccounted for.
It is thought that at least a hundred houses were hit when a hillside in Regent, a mountainous town 15 miles east of Freetown, collapsed in the early hours of Monday morning. Search and rescue efforts have continued throughout Tuesday, hampered by the country’s dangerous terrain and the sheer scale of the tragedy. The mudslide, which trapped residents while they were sleeping, is thought to have travelled for two miles.
Addressing the media, Sierra Leone President, Ernest Bai Koroma, said the devastation “was overwhelming us”. “Entire communities have been wiped out,” Koroma said. “We need urgent support now.”
People from across the African continent, and indeed the world, have come together to show their support for the disaster struck nation by setting up online relief donation campaigns.
Here are some of the Twitter reactions:
My heart goes out to the families and people of Sierra Leone ??May you find strength and support for the days ahead #SierraLeoneMudSlide
— Nike Adeyemi (@NikeAdeyemi) August 16, 2017
What a tragedy… God help the people of Sierra Leone. I can't even imagine how scary this must be. https://t.co/9ufNZtG988
— Lindi (@LinZulu) August 16, 2017
It may not be trending… but these people matter. Join me and say a prayer for all those lost in #SierraLeone today. Heartbreaking. pic.twitter.com/4QR6R4VePT
— justin baldoni (@justinbaldoni) August 14, 2017
Government asking for help as to relief more than 3,000 people left homeless by flooding and mudslides in Freetown#SierraLeone pic.twitter.com/YGeByYWt46
— Jean-Pierre Zinzen (@JPZinzen) August 16, 2017
Pray for Sierra Leone ? wow ? https://t.co/fH4kJzRkfP
— Wizkid (@wizkidayo) August 14, 2017
Heart breaking scenes from Sierra Leone ?? pic.twitter.com/prfGYlmoto
— Kazanga (@Empunzi92) August 15, 2017
I'm raising funds for #SierraLeone relief. $ will go to NOW, Sierra Leone. Please consider supporting. https://t.co/lOI0zNLqZ2 via @gofundme
— Helena Gronberg (@HelenaGron) August 16, 2017
Please donate or share to help the flood victims in Sierra Leone through @keikamara and his foundation #Heartshapedhands https://t.co/J8zVkRY5NB
— Kelsey Sullivan (@SullyKels) August 16, 2017
So crazy whats going on in Sierra Leone. Landslides in FreeTown!! Over 300 known dead. Thousands of homes…https://t.co/Rc6c1PL3gg pic.twitter.com/o4iAda7sUJ
— Madonna (@Madonna) August 14, 2017
https://twitter.com/PearlThusi/status/897682100987580418
By Dean Workman
