Thousands of people have been left homeless after mudslides hit the outskirts of the country’s capital, killing at least 270 people.
A mountainside collapsed on the outskirts of Freetown on Monday morning, burying dozens of homes as people slept.
The mudslide is considered one of the deadliest to ever occur in Africa.
Rescue workers say they have recovered 270 bodies so far, but say the number could still rise as the search continues.
“We estimate that at least 3,000 people are homeless … they need shelter, medical assistance and food,” Reuters reports Sierra Red Cross Society spokesman Abu Bakarr Tarawallie to say.
“We are also fearful of outbreaks of diseases such as cholera and typhoid. We can only hope that this does not happen.”
The United Nations children’s agency (UNICEF) is providing trauma counseling and therapy to families and children in the dozen-odd communities struck by the mudslide.
About 100 Chinese rescuers are among those carrying out operations in the country following the mudslides, and they say the disaster is far worse than expected.
