As Freetown battles the aftermath of a relentless five-hour downpour and violent storm, a massive cotton tree known locally as the Madina Cotton Tree was uprooted and crashed onto five nearby houses in the Madina community, leaving several people injured and others feared missing.

Eyewitnesses described a terrifying scene as the ancient tree, weakened by the storm’s heavy winds and saturated ground, gave way and came crashing down in the middle of the rain. Residents were caught off guard, many still indoors and seeking shelter from the severe weather.

Community members rushed to the scene in an effort to rescue those trapped. As of this report, some residents have been seriously injured and taken for medical treatment, while others remain unaccounted for. Search and rescue operations are ongoing.

 

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This incident follows a series of weather-related emergencies that hit the capital on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, panic broke out aboard a Freetown ferry after passengers lost visibility due to rough sea conditions and heavy rainfall. In another area, a home in New England Ville was destroyed by floodwaters following the collapse of a perimeter fence, with a family of six feared missing.

The storm, which began in the early hours and lasted well into the night, has caused widespread destruction across the country, flooding roads, damaging infrastructure, and displacing residents.

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