More than 300 killed after flooding and mudslides bombard Sierra Leone

At least 312 people have died 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.

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.

Social media images showed bodies lying in the street being collected by emergency personnel as the rain continued to fall.

The military has been deployed to the areas worst hit by the disaster.

The number of corpses brought in was overwhelming Freetown's Connaught Hospital mortuary, a staff member told the national broadcaster.

The country's vice president, Victor Moh, said the dead could run into hundreds, partly blaming the high number of deaths on illegal construction.

He said: "It is likely that hundreds are lying dead underneath the rubble.

"The disaster is so serious that I myself feel broken. We're trying to cordon (off) the area (and) evacuate the people."

Deputy information minister Cornelius Deveaux said the government was still trying to compile accurate casualty figures.

The original estimate was that 21 people had died.

Many of Sierra Leone's poorest areas are close to sea level, making them vulnerable to flooding in the rainy season.