Guinea says 30 killed after Conakry waste dump collapses
A rain-triggered collapse at a large waste dump in Guinea’s capital killed 30 people and injured 22 others, according to the government.
In short
- A rain-triggered collapse at a large waste dump in Guinea’s capital killed 30 people and injured 22 others, according to the government.
A landslide at a large waste dump in Conakry killed 30 people after heavy rain caused the mound to collapse onto nearby homes early on Sunday, August 23, Guinea’s government said.
The collapse happened at about 2 a.m. in the capital’s Gbessia commune, engulfing tents, shacks and other dwellings close to the site. The government reported six people seriously injured and 16 with lighter injuries as rescue teams used excavators and hand tools to search and clear debris.
Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah visited the site on Sunday to assess the response. Authorities urged residents to remain calm, support affected families and follow instructions from rescue services.
The disaster came days after Territorial Administration Minister Djénabou Touré Camara announced that the landfill would be closed and its waste moved outside Conakry because the site was unsafe. Heavy seasonal rain regularly brings landslides and flash floods to densely populated parts of West Africa.
Guinea holds major bauxite reserves and the large Simandou iron-ore deposit, but many residents continue to face weak infrastructure and poverty. The latest collapse renews scrutiny of waste management and settlement safety in the fast-growing capital.
