Landfill Collapse Kills 30 in Capital of Guinea

A catastrophic waste heap collapse triggered by heavy overnight rain has claimed at least 30 lives in Dar-es-Salam, a neighbourhood in Guinea’s capital, Conakry.

The landslide buried surrounding homes, shacks, and tents beneath mountains of refuse.

Rescue teams, backed by military personnel using excavators, continue searching through the debris for victims. Authorities confirmed 22 people suffered injuries, six severely, with fears the death toll may rise further. Prime Minister Mamadou Oury Bah visited the site to evaluate emergency response operations.

Tragedy struck families directly, including local resident Cire Diallo, who lost her five children. She stated: “I have lost all my children. All I can do is put my trust in God.”

The open-air dump had already been scheduled to close on the day of the disaster due to rainy season risks. Although officials had previously issued eviction notices, many residents remained.

Dienabou Toure, minister of territorial administration and decentralisation, pledged: “We will ensure that the remaining families are relocated elsewhere.”

This disaster follows a 2017 incident at the same dump that killed 10 people, highlighting persistent infrastructure challenges in a nation where nearly 44% of residents live in poverty.

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