Conakry, Guinea – Heavy rain overnight triggered a catastrophic collapse of a towering rubbish mound at a major waste site, burying nearby homes and killing at least 30 residents.
The collapse, which occurred around 2:00 a.m. local time, caused widespread damage and as many as twenty-two people have been reported injured, six of who suffered serious wounds. Residents near the site described a scene of piles of scattered debris and crushing rubble.
In response, the Guinean government mobilised significant resources, including the military, to conduct exhaustive search and rescue operations. Teams have been using excavators to clear the wreckage while medical staff tend to the injured.
One grieving mother recounted that all five of her children had perished in the onslaught. Neighbourhood leader Lancine Sylla confirmed that eighteen bodies were already recovered and taken to a morgue, with fears that the death toll may rise further as more search efforts continue.
Prime Minister Mamadou Oury Bah personally visited the disaster area to assess the situation and direct the ongoing rescue work. The collapse follows a previous 2017 landslide at the same site that resulted in ten deaths, highlighting persistent risks associated with unmanaged waste in Guinea’s capital.
