News outlets have reported that children were hurt on Thursday when a railing at a stadium in Sierra Leone collapsed as the president and first lady were distributing free sanitary pads.

Social media videos depict people rushing out of a stadium in the city of Bo, many of them carrying what appear to be injured people, according to the AFP news agency.

President Julius Maada Bio tweeted, "My heart goes out to all the children affected and the families of the kids who sustained injuries in the unfortunate incident at the Bo Stadium today."

“Our medical team is working assiduously to administer medical attention to the injured.”

My heart goes out to all the children affected and the families of the kids that sustained injuries in the unfortunate incident at the Bo Stadium today. I wish all the injured a speedy recovery. 1/2— President Julius Maada Bio (@PresidentBio) February 2, 2023

The number of casualties was not immediately clear.

The accident happened when a "short section of metal guardrail on one of the levels of the stadium came apart", a statement from the government’s office of the press secretary is quoted as saying.