Rescue teams in Freetown, Sierra Leone, are racing against time to find survivors after a seven-storey building collapsed in the capital, leaving at least 10 dead. The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) confirmed that seven people have been rescued from the rubble on Shell New Road, but more remain trapped. Some victims have been able to communicate their locations to rescuers, offering hope for further rescues.
The building, which housed both residential and commercial tenants, collapsed between 11:00 and 12:00 local time on Monday. Among the victims were two girls and a boy, all under five years old.
Two cranes have been deployed to assist rescue teams, who earlier used picks and their bare hands to clear the debris.
The cause of the collapse is under investigation, with initial assessments pointing to the possible use of substandard materials.
