At least 30 people were killed and 22 others injured after heavy overnight rain triggered the collapse of a massive mound of waste at a landfill in Guinea’s capital, Conakry, authorities said.
The disaster occurred at about 2 a.m. on Sunday in the Gbessia commune, when the waste pile at the Dar Es Salam landfill collapsed onto nearby tents, shacks and homes. Six of the injured were seriously hurt, while 16 suffered minor injuries, according to government figures cited by Reuters.
Rescue teams were using excavators and other equipment to search through the debris for survivors and recover bodies. Witnesses said the collapse was large enough to bury an apartment building along with more fragile dwellings nearby.
The tragedy came less than a week after the government announced plans to close the landfill and move the waste outside Conakry, citing the danger it posed during the rainy season. Residents living near the site had also been given eviction notices because of concerns about a possible collapse.
Guinea’s Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah visited the site to assess the damage and oversee the emergency response. The government said additional personnel and resources had been deployed and urged residents to follow instructions from rescue teams.
The human toll was particularly severe for families living close to the dump. Cire Diallo told reporters that all five of her children were killed in the collapse.
The disaster also highlights the risks faced by rapidly growing and densely populated communities in parts of West Africa, where heavy seasonal rains can trigger landslides and flash floods. Guinea has significant mineral wealth, including the world’s largest bauxite reserves, but continues to face widespread poverty and infrastructure challenges.
A similar landslide at the same landfill killed 10 people in 2017, according to reports, underscoring the longstanding safety concerns surrounding the site.
