Citizens Call For Immediate Evacuation of Unsafe Buildings on Fisher Street in Freetown

Concerned citizens are urging the Freetown City Council and the Sierra Leonean government to evacuate occupants from several buildings on Fisher Street in Freetown, citing their dilapidated and unsafe condition.

The appeals come amidst growing fears of potential collapse. Images circulating online, including one depicting a four-story and an adjacent five-story building in significant disrepair, have fueled public outcry.

“Who owns these buildings on Fisher Street, Freetown, Sierra Leone? They should be condemned and evacuated immediately,” wrote Nyamakoro Silla on X (formerly Twitter).

Another user, Natina Santos, described one of the structures as a “death trap,” while Ramsatu Golden Queen commented on the apparent risk taken by residents, stating, “People dem get mind for risk dem lives dem na such building” (People are brave enough to risk their lives in such a building).

Alhaji Osman Kamara expressed a cynical view, remarking, “The bad news is that the landlord is going [to] raise the rent on it and people are going to keep paying renting it.” Renatas Cuisine echoed the widespread concern, simply stating, “Another disaster waiting to happen.”

In response to the mounting concerns, John Baimba Sesay, a Senior Communications Manager at the Freetown City Council, directed inquiries to the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA).

“Thanks for always drawing attention to such issues @toubuya National Disaster Management Agency @ndmasierraleone on this!!!” he wrote, acknowledging the public’s vigilance.

The plea for action on Fisher Street comes amidst a concerning rise in building collapses and disaster-related incidents across Sierra Leone.

Most recently, an entire family tragically lost their lives when a fence collapsed on their house during a heavy downpour in Gbendembu, Goderich, located in Sierra Leone’s Western Rural District. In June, three people also died after a three-storey building under construction collapsed at the Pentagon, Off Regent Road, Lumley, Freetown.

Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, while expressing deep sorrow following a recent building collapse, emphasized the critical need for Sierra Leone to implement stringent building regulations and an effective permitting system.

She highlighted that these responsibilities currently lie with the Ministry of Lands rather than local councils, a situation she noted is contrary to global best practices.

“It is imperative that Sierra Leone urgently institutes building regulations, an effective building permitting regime, and land use planning,” Aki-Sawyerr stated.