By Saidu Jalloh, Daily Scope Reporter
Two schoolgirls were killed on Monday after a heavy downpour triggered the collapse of a sidebank wall at Upper Jalloh Terrace in Wellington, east of Freetown.
The victims have been identified as Aminata and Isata. Both died when torrents of mud and debris from an elevated embankment broke through a residential compound during the rainstorm.
Eyewitnesses said the downpour, which lasted several hours, weakened the structure of the sidebank. Within minutes, the wall gave way and swept through the yard where the children were.
Neighbours and emergency responders rushed to the scene and attempted rescue efforts, but the girls were pronounced dead at the site.
The incident has left the community in mourning and renewed concerns about housing safety in high-risk areas of the capital.
The tragedy comes as the National Disaster Management Authority continues to warn residents living near steep slopes, drainage channels, and unstable embankments to exercise caution during the peak of the rainy season.
Last week, NDMA issued a flood alert for Port Loko District, which borders Freetown, citing saturated soils and the risk of further landslides.
Meteorological forecasts indicate that heavy rains will persist across Sierra Leone through July and August, raising the threat of flooding and structural collapses in vulnerable communities.
Authorities are urging residents to prioritize safety and report signs of land slippage to local disaster officials.
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