Freetown, Sierra Leone, Aug 16, 2017 / 10:08 am
A massive mudslide in Sierra Leone's capital city has left hundreds dead and thousands homeless, with relief agencies hurrying to respond.
"There are people whose entire families have gone missing. There is a real sense of despair. Right now, people are in a complete state of shock," said Idalia Amaya, deputy head of programs and emergency response coordinator for Catholic Relief Services.
"The devastation is like nothing we've seen before. Entire neighborhoods have been washed away," she added.
More than 600 people are missing and at least 300 are dead after a massive mudslide early Monday morning in Freetown. Some bodies were swept into the sea. The death toll has overwhelmed some mortuaries.