30 Killed as Massive Landfill Collapses in Guinea’s Capital

At least 30 people have been killed after a massive pile of rubbish collapsed at the largest landfill in Guinea’s capital, Conakry, following heavy overnight rainfall, authorities said.

The disaster occurred shortly after 2:00 a.m. on Sunday at the Dar es Salam open-air landfill, when the huge mound of waste collapsed onto nearby makeshift homes.

Rescue workers searched through the debris for survivors. Six people were critically injured and taken to hospital, while several homes were destroyed.

The landfill, which serves the city of about two million people, had been scheduled to close on Sunday because authorities considered it unsafe. Residents had already been issued eviction notices, but many families were still living in the area when the collapse occurred.

Guinea’s Territorial Administration Minister, Dienabou Toure, who visited the scene, said the government would ensure that families remaining near the landfill were relocated to safer areas.

Heavy rain had saturated the unstable waste site, triggering the deadly landslide while many residents were asleep. Makeshift houses made from wood, tarpaulins and metal sheets were buried under tonnes of rubbish and mud.

Rescuers used excavators, shovels and their bare hands to search for bodies and survivors. Residents described scenes of panic as families desperately searched for missing relatives.

The tragedy highlights the dangers faced by vulnerable communities living close to poorly managed waste sites. Guinea has significant mineral wealth, including some of the world’s largest bauxite reserves, but remains among West Africa’s poorer countries, with nearly half of its population living below the national poverty line.

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