As the search and rescue efforts at the collapsed seven-storey building at Shell New Road, Freetown, continue into Day 5, the fatality rate has unfortunately risen.

The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) has confirmed that 23 people have been recovered from the rubble, with the death toll now standing at 15.

Eight survivors have been pulled from the debris so far, with three still receiving treatment at Rokupa Hospital.

Five others have been treated and discharged, according to the NDMA’s latest update. However, hope remains as the search continues, with reports of individuals still trapped beneath the collapsed structure.

Among those still missing are a four-year-old child, whose father has made a desperate appeal for information.

An eyewitness has also reported that a one-year-old child is unaccounted for, believed to be trapped in a building under which eight bodies were recovered earlier.

Rescue teams are working around the clock, using specialized equipment and support from community volunteers, as the operation enters a critical phase.

Authorities continue to appeal for calm and patience as efforts to find more survivors persist in the wake of this devastating collapse.