Freetown, 25th October 2023 – In a heart-wrenching incident that sent shockwaves throughout the community of Graybush, a disaster struck when a massive boulder came crashing down on a two-bedroom flat building, leaving both husband and wife dead. The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) swiftly responded to the emergency, conducting a preliminary assessment of the incident through its Directorates of Communications and Relief & Response.
The catastrophic event took the lives of Tamba Komba and Fanta Komba, a married couple who were residing in the ill-fated flat. The news of their tragic demise sent shock and sorrow rippling throughout the Graybush Community. The lifeless bodies of Tamba and Fanta were conveyed to the Connaught Hospital Mortuary, a sad reminder of the fragility of life and the suddenness with which it can be extinguished.
The NDMA assessment team, led by NDMA’s Western Regional Coordinator, Gerald King, swiftly took action to gauge the extent of the damage and evaluate the safety of the surrounding structures. The devastation caused by the falling boulder was a stark reminder of the potential dangers that loom over communities in areas with rocky and hilly terrain. The team meticulously inspected the affected area and alerted other residents in the vicinity about the potential risks they faced.
With a deep sense of responsibility, the assessment team urged the residents to consider voluntary relocation to safer areas. The aim was not only to prevent further loss of lives but also to ensure that in the face of this devastating adversity, the community members would adhere to the directives of the NDMA and not take the risk of residing in extremely high-risk areas.
It is worth noting that the NDMA has embarked on several risk reduction activities such as the prevention of construction of makeshift structures beneath hills with hanging boulders, on waterways, clearing of clogged drainages, and conducted massive community engagements to take on board the practice of disaster preparedness and risk reduction locally to ensure their resilience is strengthened and boost safety within the Graybush, Bololo, and Kolleh Town communities.
NDMA will continue its risk reduction interventions to enable individuals, communities, and authorities to take proactive measures to reduce the potential impact and harm caused by disasters in prone communities.
