Landslide Buries Six Houses in Moyiba Community

The Moyiba community in Sierra Leone has faced a severe landslide due to heavy rainfall over the past weekend, burying at least six houses under a mass of debris. Fortunately, there have been no reported fatalities, but the disaster has caused significant property damage, with estimated losses in the millions of leones.

Mohamed L. Bah, Director of Communications at the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), confirmed that the landslide occurred at night. “Prior warnings and evacuation advisories helped prevent any loss of life,” Bah said. The landslide was caused by blocked waterways on the hills, which forced water to find new paths, destabilizing the hillside and leading to its collapse.

Despite earlier warnings, some residents did not evacuate in time, and the area’s inadequate infrastructure exacerbates the problem. Moyiba, situated on the eastern outskirts of Freetown, has seen rapid population growth without corresponding improvements in infrastructure. The lack of proper drainage and waste management systems has made the community particularly vulnerable during the rainy season. The pollution of a dam built by the NGO Action Contre La Faim, due to improper waste disposal, has further compounded the risk.

In response to the landslide, local leaders, including community chiefs and various groups, have convened to develop a cleanup plan and address waste management issues. The Community Disaster Management Committee is actively involved in raising awareness and enforcing new bylaws to prevent improper waste disposal, especially in sensitive areas like streams.