A mass burial for about 300 people killed by a mudslide and flooding has taken place on the outskirts of the Sierra Leonean capital Freetown. Hundreds of bodies have been removed from the mortuary overnight after devastating mudslides that got the attention and sympathy of the world. There was serious concerns that diseases like cholera or typhoid could spread, and so the priority was for the burials to take place as soon as possible.
Taxis and ambulances arrived at the morgue, with coffins and flowers in the back. The bodies that had previously been identified will get the dignity of a private funeral service. The rest, however, will receive a mass burial at Waterloo cemetery, where the victims of Ebola were buried only three years ago. The graveyard is 18 miles away from Sierra Leone’s capital of Freetown. Buses are being put on for the families of the victims to pay their respects. Hundreds of men have been at work digging separate burial plots for a funeral which President Ernest Bai Koroma is expected to attend.
The mudslides and flooding struck early on Monday, with many victims trapped in their homes in low-lying areas of Freetown and surrounding settlements. Hundreds were killed and thousands of people are believed to be missing. The recovery effort on Sugar Loaf mountain continues. Officials say there is no hope of finding anyone alive, but the aim now is to remove dead bodies from the scene.
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