At least 312 people have died and more than 2,000 are homeless after a series of floods and mudslides hit the outskirts of Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown.
A Red Cross spokesperson said the number was likely to rise further as more bodies are recovered.
President Ernest Bai Koroma declared a national emergency as the military, police and Red Cross were deployed in an effort to search for survivors.
Storms swept through the capital of the West African country on Monday, leaving streets under water and causing landslips in rural areas.
TV pictures showed people using their hands to dig through mud to find their loved ones.
One of the worst mudslides occurred in the mountain town of Regent where a hill had partially collapsed, according to local media.
Social media images showed bodies lying in the street being collected by emergency personnel as the rain continued to fall.
Save the Children said it was likely that dozens of children will be among the casualties and said that whole families were missing.
Source: Hundreds dead in Sierra Leone flooding
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