Landslide at Guinea landfill kills 30 after heavy rains

Thirty people died in Guinea's capital, Conakry, on Sunday when a mound of rubbish at the Dar es Salaam landfill collapsed onto neighboring homes following heavy rains. The incident occurred around 2:00 am in the Gbessia commune, engulfing precarious dwellings. Six others were seriously injured, and 16 sustained minor injuries, with several homes destroyed.

Rescue operations, including the use of excavators, were underway to search for bodies and potential survivors. The Guinean government had recently announced plans to close the site and relocate the waste due to the threat it posed, especially during the rainy season which causes landslides and flash floods annually in underdeveloped cities across West Africa.

Guinea holds significant mineral reserves but suffers from poor infrastructure and widespread poverty. The prime minister visited the landfill on Sunday to assess the damage and supervise the response.