At least 30 people have been killed after a massive section of rubbish collapsed at Conakry’s largest landfill, burying people and destroying homes following heavy overnight rain. The disaster occurred early Sunday at the Dar Es Salam waste site, where saturated ground gave way in a series of landslides. Residents rushed to the area to search for survivors, but further collapses made the rescue operation extremely dangerous. Eyewitness Robert Kamano Sâa said people initially climbed onto the waste to look for those trapped before another section collapsed, sweeping debris over people below.
Authorities said six people were seriously injured, while several homes close to the landfill were destroyed. Emergency crews were deployed to search through the huge piles of waste for survivors and recover bodies. The collapse came on the same day the landfill was scheduled to close. Authorities had already ordered residents living around the site to leave because of safety and environmental concerns. However, many people remained in the area, highlighting the difficulties Guinea faces in managing waste and relocating communities living around major disposal sites. The tragedy has renewed questions about the safety of Conakry’s waste-management system, particularly the risks posed by large, unstable rubbish sites located close to residential communities. Officials have not yet released a final casualty figure, and rescue operations are continuing.
