More than 400 killed in Sierra Lenone mudslides and flooding

In Sierra Leone, the death toll has crossed over 400 in the mudslides caused by heavy rain on Monday. President Ernest Bai Koroma said that his country needs "urgent support now" for thousands of people affected by flash flooding and mudslides in and around the capital Freetown.

Talking to news persons yesterday, he said the disaster "was overwhelming". The Red Cross estimates that more than 600 people are still missing.Abdul Nasir, program coordinator for the



International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said that an estimated 9,000 people have been affected in some way by the disaster.

The U.N. said it is providing emergency response assistance. Many of the poor areas of Freetown are near sea level and have poor drainage systems, which makes flooding worse during the rainy season. The capital also is plagued by unregulated construction of large residential houses in hilltop areas.