Kissy Road, East End, Freetown, Tuesday, May 26, 2026 – The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) received an alert in the early hours of Tuesday morning regarding the collapse of a five-storey building under construction at 113A Kissy Road in Freetown. The incident partially destroyed two nearby structures and prompted a swift multi-agency emergency response led by the NDMA.
The incident occurred at approximately 4:00am and the affected area, near Starco Cinema has been temporarily closed. The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), Freetown City Council (FCC), Sierra Leone Police (SLP), Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA), the Ministry of Works and Public Assets, the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society, and other partners arrived at the scene early this morning following the collapse and have since been engaged in a coordinated response operation.
Preliminary assessments conducted by the NDMA’s assessment officers indicate that no deaths have been recorded, and there is currently no reasonable suspicion that anyone remains trapped beneath the rubble.
Findings from the ongoing investigation also suggest that the collapse resulted from the use of substandard building materials and poor construction errors by the contractor.
Furthermore, the investigation revealed that the owner of the collapsed building is believed to reside in the United States, while efforts to contact his relatives in Sierra Leone and the contractor responsible for the construction have so far been unsuccessful.
Speaking on the incident, Director General of the NDMA, John Vandy Rogers, said the agency remains committed to ensuring public safety while investigations continue.
“The preliminary assessment points to serious concerns regarding construction standards and engineering compliance. We are grateful that no lives have been lost in this unfortunate incident. The NDMA, together with our partners, is fully engaged in ensuring the area is secured, the rubble cleared, and investigations thoroughly conducted to establish accountability,” DG Rogers stated.
Mayor of the Freetown City Council, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, emphasized the need for strict adherence to building regulations and stronger enforcement measures across the capital.
“This incident is a painful reminder of the dangers posed by unsafe construction practices. The safety of residents must always come first, and we will continue working closely with the relevant authorities to strengthen compliance with approved building standards and protect our communities,” the Mayor said.
The National Disaster Management Agency and the Sierra Leone Roads Authority are currently coordinating the deployment of an excavator to clear debris from the site and reopen Kissy Road to vehicular traffic.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Energy has removed exposed electrical cables and damaged utility poles to ensure public safety and help stabilize the power supply in the affected area.
The National Disaster Management Agency will continue its investigations into the collapse and assures the public that further updates will be provided as additional information becomes available.
For More Enquiries:
Directorate of Communications
Toll-free line: 1199 (all networks)
Email: mohamedIbah@ndma.gov.sl
