Freetown_ More than a thousand people died, including hundreds of children, due to the floods and landslides caused by the intense rains that struck this capital, Prensa Latina reports.

The Ministry of Emergency reported the number of victims because of the heavy rainfall of the night between 13 and 14 August, when people slept.

According to press reports, a whole side of the Sugar Loaf hill collapsed, crushed hundreds of homes and swept the Regent area, a place that became virtually a marsh and mud stream.

From the day of the disaster, teams from the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) responded to the demands of the large number of children and families affected.

Media reported that the UN agency provided drinking water and hygiene items, as well as distributed humanitarian aid such as medicines, tents and other tools.

By the number of fatalities, the fact is considered the worst disaster of the nature suffered by West Africa in decades.

The authorities demanded on more than one occasion to make precise counts, although many people say that the exact number of deceased persons may never be known.

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