Conakry, Guinea, en.SERU.co.id — At least 30 people were killed after a massive mound of waste collapsed onto nearby homes in Guinea’s capital early Sunday, authorities said.
Heavy overnight rain triggered the collapse at the country’s largest open-air landfill in the Dar-es-Salam area of Gbessia commune, Conakry, at around 2 a.m. local time.
Government statements said six people were seriously injured and another 16 suffered lighter injuries. Rescue teams, including military personnel and excavators, were deployed to search for survivors and recover bodies from the debris.
One resident, Cire Diallo, told reporters at the scene that she had lost all five of her children.
“I have lost all my children. All I can do is put my trust in God,” she said.
Neighbourhood leader Lancine Sylla earlier said 18 bodies had been recovered and taken to the morgue before authorities released the updated death toll.
Rescue Efforts and Government Response
Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah visited the site to assess the damage and oversee the emergency response. Authorities said significant resources had been mobilised to search for survivors, recover bodies and provide medical assistance to those affected.
The landfill had been scheduled to close on Sunday, the same day as the disaster. Just days earlier, the minister of territorial administration had announced plans to shut the site and relocate waste outside Conakry because of the risks posed during the rainy season.
Residents living near the landfill had also received eviction notices, although some remained in the area when the collapse occurred.
Previous Disaster at the Site
The same landfill was the scene of a similar disaster in 2017, when a landslide killed about 10 people.
Landslides and flash floods associated with seasonal rains remain recurring hazards in densely populated areas of West Africa. The latest death toll remains provisional as rescue and recovery operations continue.
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