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A social media video has emerged showing residents in Freetown’s Mambo/Hamilton communities constructing houses in a potentially hazardous location at the foot of a crumbling hill. This raises concerns about a repeat of the devastating 2017 mudslides.
The video commentary highlights loose stones rolling down the hill, a sign of instability. The narrator pleads with the government and other stakeholders to intervene and stop residents from building in this dangerous area.
The video claims the hill was previously weakened by a Chinese-run quarry, further increasing the risk for residents. It also clarifies a jurisdictional dispute between the Mambo and Hamilton communities regarding the specific location.
The commentary emphasizes the ongoing danger, stating that stones continue to fall despite the clear threat.
This situation evokes memories of the horrific mudslides that struck Freetown in August 2017. The disaster, triggered by days of heavy rain, resulted in mud and debris flows that destroyed buildings, killed over 1,141 people, and displaced more than 3,000.
Experts point out that the video appears to show similar risk factors present in 2017, including unregulated construction and inadequate drainage systems exacerbated by deforestation.
Freetown’s history of heavy rainfall further amplifies the concerns. According to the National Weather Service, the city received a staggering 41 inches of rain in the months leading up to the 2017 disaster, nearly three times the average. The lack of timely warnings from meteorological services further compounded the tragedy.
