NDMA Updates Public on Three-Storey Building Collapse in Freetown

The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) has issued a preliminary update after the collapse of a three-storey building that is under construction at Pentagon, Off Regent Road, Lumley, Freetown.

According to NDMA, the agency received a distress alert at around 2:00 PM on Sunday, June 1st 2025, about the collapse of a three-storey building under construction at Pentagon, Off Regent Road, Lumley, Freetown. Upon receiving the call, the NDMA response team was deployed to the scene and commenced search and rescue operations.

Preliminary findings revealed that the building collapsed while the contractor and his team were actively working on the site. The findings further disclosed that six construction workers were inside the building at the time of the incident. Four managed to escape the rubble with varying degrees of injury. However, the contractor and one of his workers remain trapped beneath the debris.

The NDMA further coordinated engineers from the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) and personnel from the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) who on site led intensive efforts to locate and rescue the two individuals.

Due to the intensity of the rescue operation, the NDMA reached out to Paviport and Gento Group of Companies for the availability of heavy-duty equipment to support the rescue operations. Both companies responded positively by providing an excavator to help smoothing the search and rescue work.

The Freetown City Council (FCC), alongside the RSLAF and SLP, actively collaborated with NDMA to manage the operation.

The Director General of the NDMA, Lit. Gen. (Rtd) Brima Sesay who was at the scene noted; till night was positive and had hope that the trapped individuals will be rescued alive.”

The NDMA extends its profound gratitude to the CEO of the Gento group of Companies, Mohamed Gento Kamara who was at the scene, and the first responders (community volunteers) for their tireless effort for helping with the rescue operations.

NDMA promised to update the public as the situation unfolds.