A storm destroyed one of the world's most famous trees

Freetown's century-old "cotton tree," one of Sierra Leone's landmarks, lost all its branches after a heavy storm Wednesday night, the government said.

Of the giant ceiba of 70 meters, known as "Cotton Tree" only the base of its huge trunk remains, still standing after "torrential rains and strong winds," the government of this small West African country said Thursday in a statement.

A hundred people gathered around the site on Thursday morning. Police and army were deployed as the site was cleaned.

The centennial "cotton tree" of Freetown, emblem of Sierra Leone (AP).

"For centuries, the Cotton Tree was a proud emblem of our nation, a symbol that grew to serve as a refuge for many people," President Julius Maada Bio said in the statement.

"I'm shocked. My heart broke when I saw our beloved destroyed Cotton Tree while going to work," said Gibrilla Sesay, 34.

Of its 70 meters only the base of its huge trunk remained (AFP).

This tree, which is part of the history of the country and the capital, covered with its tall branches the streets and surrounding buildings from the center of a bustling roundabout.

A tree with a wonderful history

According to tradition, it was under this tree that slaves from North America, who won their freedom fighting in the War of Independence, prayed and thanked heaven for their liberation at the end of the 18th century.

The image of the tree decorated banknotes and stamps, and is so famous that Queen Elizabeth II visited it in 1961.

Under this tree the slaves prayed and thanked heaven for their deliverance at the end of the 18th century (AP).

The tree suffered a fire in 2018, and also in 2020.

Sierra Leone has experienced several ecological disasters in recent years. In 2017, more than 1,100 people died after a mudslide in the capital.

AFP Agency.

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