Thirty killed as landfill collapses after heavy rain in Guinea

A landslide at a landfill in Guinea’s capital, Conakry, killed 30 people after overnight rain caused a vast mound of waste to collapse onto nearby tents, shacks and other homes, the government said on Sunday (August 23).

The disaster occurred at about 2am in the Gbessia commune. Six people were seriously injured and another 16 sustained minor injuries, according to a government statement.

Rescue workers used excavators and other equipment to clear the collapsed waste and search for anyone who might remain trapped beneath it. Witnesses described the landslide as large enough to bury an apartment building as well as several more precarious dwellings.

Mother loses five children

Cire Diallo, a woman at the scene, told reporters that all five of her children had died in the disaster.

“I have lost all my children. All I can do is put my trust in God,” she said.

Guinean Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah visited the landfill on Sunday to inspect the damage and oversee the emergency response.

The government called on residents to remain calm, support one another and follow instructions from rescue teams and the relevant authorities.