Heavy rains triggered a massive waste-landslide in Conakry, killing 30 people and seriously injuring six as rescue teams search for survivors.
CONAKRY – Web Desk: At least 30 people were killed after a massive mound of rubbish collapsed from a landfill onto neighbouring homes in Guinea’s capital, Conakry, following heavy rains, authorities said.
The disaster occurred at about 2am local time on Sunday in the Dar-es-Salam neighbourhood of the Bbessia district on the outskirts of Conakry. Six other people were seriously injured, according to a government statement.
Rescue Operation Underway
Rescue teams have been deployed to search through the collapsed landfill for people who may still be trapped beneath the waste.
Excavators were being used to clear the debris and recover victims as emergency personnel continued operations at the site. The government said significant human and material resources had been mobilised for the search-and-rescue effort.
Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah visited the disaster site and inspected the ongoing rescue operation.
The government also said measures had been taken to provide medical treatment to those injured and assistance to people affected by the disaster.
Heavy Rains Triggered Collapse
The landfill collapse followed heavy overnight rainfall, which caused the large mound of waste to give way and engulf nearby homes and makeshift structures.
The Dar Es Salam site is one of the largest open-air waste dumps serving Conakry. Reports from international media said heavy seasonal rains had increased concerns about the stability of the landfill.
The incident occurred just days after authorities announced measures to remove residents from the area because of fears that the landfill could collapse.
Landfill Was Due to Close
The disaster has raised further questions about safety conditions around the waste site.
Guinean authorities had ordered the eviction of people living around the landfill in recent days because of the risk of a collapse. The site had also been scheduled for closure on Sunday, according to a military engineering official involved in sanitation operations.
The timing has prompted renewed scrutiny of the authorities’ efforts to address safety concerns around the landfill and relocate residents from vulnerable areas.
Bodies Recovered as Search Continues
Before the government’s official death toll was announced, local neighbourhood leader Lancine Sylla said rescuers had already recovered 18 bodies and taken them to a morgue.
Authorities later confirmed that the death toll had reached 30. Rescue operations remain underway as officials search for anyone who could still be buried beneath the collapsed waste.
The disaster has also drawn concern from Guinea’s political opposition. Former prime minister Cellou Dalein Diallo, who is living in exile, described the incident as a tragedy and called for authorities to establish the circumstances surrounding the collapse.
Disaster Highlights Seasonal Risks
The Conakry tragedy underscores the risks faced by communities living near unstable waste sites during Guinea’s rainy season.
Heavy seasonal rainfall can increase the risk of landslides and collapses, particularly around densely populated areas and poorly managed waste facilities. The immediate priority in Conakry remains the search for survivors, recovery of victims and assistance for displaced residents.
