Rescuers in Sierra Leone continue to search for more survivors after a seven-story building collapsed in the capital Freetown, killing at least 10 people.
The West African country’s National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) said seven people have been rescued from the rubble on Shell New Road so far, but “more people remain trapped”.
He added that some of those in the rubble were “able to communicate their locations” to rescuers.
The building in east Freetown collapsed between 11:00 and 12:00 local time (12:00 and 13:00 BST) on Monday, the NDMA said. Two children and a boy – all under the age of five – are among the victims.
Two cranes were brought in to help the rescue teams, who were first seen with picks and their bare hands trying to clear the wreckage.
Local resident Mohamed Camara wept as he told the AFP news agency that his wife and three children were trapped in the rubble.
The cause of the collapse is being investigated.
The building has been used for residential and commercial purposes, according to initial assessments conducted by NDMA.
The head of the agency, Brima Sesay, stressed the need to sensitize “the public on the risks associated with the use of unqualified contractors and substandard construction materials.”
He also said his agency “will continue to conduct vulnerability assessments to help reduce the frequency of building collapses across the country.”
Sierra Leone is one of the poorest countries in the world, and buildings are often built with substandard materials.