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IN PICTURES: Devastation In Sierra Leone

At least 499 bodies of people who perished following a deadly landslide in Sierra Leone were uncovered by Sunday, according to Reuters.
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IN PICTURES: Devastation In Sierra Leone
Mudslide Destroys Homes(01 of10)
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People inspect the damage after a mudslide in the mountain town of Regent, Sierra Leone, on August 14, 2017. (credit:Reuters / Ernest Henry)
Searching For Survivors(02 of10)
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Residents stand as rescue workers search for survivors after a mudslide in the mountain town of Regent, Sierra Leone, onAugust 14, 2017. (credit:Reuters / Ernest Henry)
Raging River(03 of10)
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People wearing protective suits hold hands as they cross a river after a mudslide in the mountain town of Regent, Sierra Leone August 15, 2017, in this still image taken from a video. (credit:Reuters TV / Reuters)
At Least 499 People Confirmed Deceased(04 of10)
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Trucks convey the remains of victims of the mudslide for burial at the Paloko cemetery, in Waterloo, Sierra Leone, on August 17, 2017. (credit:Reuters / Afolabi Sotunde)
Widespread Destruction(05 of10)
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One of the few houses left standing within the valley after a flash flood at Pentagon, in Freetown, Sierra Leone August 18, 2017. (credit:Reuters / Afolabi Sotunde)
President Koroma At A Burial In Waterloo(06 of10)
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Sierra Leone Predisent Ernest Koroma is joined by Liberia President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf during the burial of victims of the mudslide at the Paloko cemetery, in Waterloo, Sierra Leone August 17, 2017. (credit:Reuters / Afolabi Sotunde)
'God Bless Our Home'(07 of10)
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A wall painting is seen on a wall of a room filled with debris and mud after a flash flood at Pentagon, in Freetown, Sierra Leone, August 18, 2017. (credit:Reuters / Afolabi Sotunde)
Mass Graves(08 of10)
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A worker is digging graves at the Paloko cemetery in Waterloo, Sierra Leone August 17, 2017. (credit:Reuters / Afolabi Sotunde)
Mourning The Deceased(09 of10)
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A woman mourns for her son at the entrance of Connaught Hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone August 16, 2017. (credit:Reuters / Afolabi Sotunde)
Town In Tatters(10 of10)
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People inspect the damage after a mudslide in the mountain town of Regent, Sierra Leone, August 14, 2017. (credit:Reuters / Ernest Henry)

At least 499 dead bodies had been unearthed near Freetown, Sierra Leone, following last week's devastating landslide, Reuters reported on Sunday.

The side of Mount Sugar Loaf collapsed on Monday after heavy rains, burying parts of Regent town, six miles east of the capital.

Authorities buried 461 bodies in a mass grave site in Waterloo cemetery which is near to the mass burial site for victims of the Ebola crisis between 2014 and 2016 which claimed 4000 people's lives.

Chief coroner Seneh Dumbuya told Reuters on Sunday 38 more bodies had been found which brought the death toll up to 499 by the end of the weekend. The Red Cross said over 600 people were still missing.

Authorities had prioritised digging up bodies to prevent potential contamination of the water supply and the spread of disease. "We are doing all we can to ensure cholera does not break out," Samuel Turay, an official at the health ministry, told Reuters.

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