By Mariama Bundu
A five-storey building under construction collapsed at 113A Kissy Road in the east end of Freetown on Tuesday morning, prompting an emergency response from the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) and several other institutions.
The incident occurred at around 4:00am near the Starco Cinema area and partially damaged two nearby buildings. Authorities temporarily closed the affected section of Kissy Road as emergency teams moved to secure the area.
Officials from the NDMA, Freetown City Council (FCC), Sierra Leone Police (SLP), Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA), Ministry of Works and Public Assets, Sierra Leone Red Cross Society and other partners responded to the scene.
According to preliminary assessments conducted by the NDMA, no deaths were recorded and there is no indication that anyone remains trapped under the rubble.
Investigators believe the collapse may have resulted from poor construction practices and the use of substandard building materials.
Authorities also disclosed that the owner of the building is believed to be based in the United States, while efforts to contact his relatives in Sierra Leone and the contractor handling the construction have so far proved unsuccessful.
Speaking on the incident, NDMA Director General John Vandy Rogers said the agency remains committed to public safety and accountability.
He said preliminary findings raised serious concerns about engineering standards and construction compliance but expressed relief that no lives were lost.
Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr also stressed the need for strict enforcement of building regulations to prevent similar incidents.
Meanwhile, the NDMA and SLRA are coordinating the clearing of debris from the site to reopen the road to traffic.
The Ministry of Energy has also removed damaged electricity poles and exposed cables to ensure public safety in the area.
Investigations into the incident continue.
