Conakry: At least 30 people were killed and six others seriously injured after a massive garbage dump collapsed following heavy rains in Guinea’s capital, Conakry.
The incident occurred around 2am at the city’s largest open garbage dump in the Dar-es-Salaam area. Heavy rainfall caused a huge pile of waste to collapse, burying nearby shacks and residential areas under tonnes of debris.
Rescue teams are continuing search operations for people who may still be trapped beneath the rubble. Authorities fear the death toll could rise.
Lieutenant Colonel Balda Mamadou Bailo, sanitation officer of the military engineering battalion, said the hazardous dump was scheduled to be officially closed on Sunday. Families living in the surrounding area had already been instructed to evacuate, and many had moved to safer locations. However, some residents remained in the area when the collapse occurred.
Regional Administration and Decentralization Minister Dienabou Touré, who visited the site, said the remaining families would be evacuated immediately to safer locations.
The incident has renewed concerns over the risks posed by unsafe waste disposal sites and settlements located nearby.
Guinea is rich in natural resources, including bauxite, iron ore, gold and diamonds, but continues to face widespread poverty and infrastructure challenges. According to World Bank data, around 43.7% of the population lives below the national poverty line.
