Samuel Kallon 
By Ragan M. Conteh
The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) has confirmed five survivors receiving treatment at Rokupa Hospital being discharged.
The Management said three (3) survivors are still receiving care at Choithram Hospital.
The Agency, on day five was giving update on the Collapsed Seven-Storey Building at Shell New Road in Freetown.
According to Disaster Management team, they said on the September 20th, 2024 a total of 23 were recovered from the debris.
The agency said the number of fatalities are fifteen (15) among them 5 adult were males, 4 adult females, 2 girls under the age of five, 2 boys under the age of five, 1 male below the age of ten and 1 teenage girl.
Those survived initially were eight (8) with 2 adult females, 3 adult males, 2 boys under the age of five years and 1 teenage girl.
The number of trapped victims are still unknown.
Therefore, the NDMA has confirmed news got from a father that his 4-year-old child was still missing.
An eyewitness also reported the missing of one-year-old child in a building underneath where eight dead bodies were recovered.
The neighbours can’t confirm the possibility of more people being trapped in the rubble.
A meeting was held at the office of the Vice President, Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh with all stakeholders involved in the rescue effort, and the following decisions were agreed upon.
To allow families who lost loved ones to have access to the corpses for burial as well demolish some makeshift structures underneath the debris to enable excavators to access ground level, ensuring the safety of both operators and machinery.
The Honourable, Princess Kadie Darammy, Councillors, and the NDMA will engage the affected individuals whose structures are to be demolished.
The NDMA also held discussions with the executive of the Sierra Leone Institute of Engineers, who have agreed to provide technical guidelines for the remaining operations.
Yesterday, according to the agency whike clearing debris, rescue operators recovered a total of NLe55,600, which was handed over to the rightful owner, Mohamed Jalloh, by Honourable Daramy and the NDMA today.
The NDMA extends its sincere appreciation to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society, the National Public Health Agency, the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, the Human Rights Commission Sierra Leone, and the Sierra Leone Police for their unwavering dedication to the response efforts.
The Gento Group of Companies, Marampa Mines, and Sierra Rutile Limited continue to provide personnel, machinery, and fuel to aid in the rescue operations.
The NDMA remains committed to coordinating the response efforts and ensuring that any remaining individuals trapped in the rubble are recovered.
