Sierra Leone's iconic cotton tree felled by storm
President Bio has said there will be something at the same spot to represent the “great cotton tree’s place” in the country's history.
Boakyewaa Lawrencia 
A powerful storm has destroyed a famous landmark in the capital city of Sierra Leone, Freetown—a towering cotton tree that was hundreds of years old.
According to President Julius Maada Bio, the tree fell on Wednesday night following a significant downpour. The "great loss to the nation" was how he put it.
The president claimed that early settlers looked upon the tree as a representation of liberty and freedom. The recognizable tree may be seen on the currency of Sierra Leone.
Local media claims that the cotton tree is the oldest of its kind in the nation and that the city was created there by people who were once slaves.
Here's the tree pictured in 2013:
