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| Photo credit: Hindustan |
Philip Effiom Ephraim|19 August 2017
Mass burials are taking place in Sierra Leone to lay to rest over 400 bodies of people killed in what has been described as the worst mudslide in the country’s history. Of the over 400 killed, 100 corpses or body parts have been identified as those of children. The mudslide struck during the early hours of Monday August 14. The disaster is attributed to torrential rains falling throughout the night and early hours, causing flash floods thus washing away hundreds of houses downhill in the outskirts of Freetown the country’s capital.
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| Photo credit: Reuters |
Leading the mass burials, the country’s president Ernest Koroma supported by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, condoled with relatives of the deceased and those affected saying that all corpses will be given a decent burial. However, many bodies are yet to be found or identified. As the days go by, the stench from decomposing corpses worsens and so does the possibility of finding anyone alive at the huge disaster site.
Sierra Leone has had its fair share of disasters within the past three years. The Ebola outbreak 2014 left thousands dead. The country was still currently struggling with recovery efforts when the mudslide struck. With the rains still coming, there are fears of more mudslides.
President Koroma has appealed to the international community and aid organizations for assistance in the face of yet another national disaster.
Philip Effiom Ephraim is a freelance journalist, communication and media educator. He is keenly interested in global affairs and development issues. His research focuses on new media as tools for shaping new socio-political cultures and citizens’ empowerment in developing countries especially in Africa and Asia.
