At least thirty people were killed after a towering heap of rubbish collapsed at the largest landfill in Guinea`s capital, Conakry, following heavy overnight rains, authorities said, according to Reuters and the Associated Press. The landslide struck shortly after two in the morning on Sunday at the Dar es Salam open-air dump, sending a massive mountain of waste crashing directly onto nearby shacks and residential tents. Rescue workers immediately rushed to the scene, digging through deep debris to reach survivors as six critically injured individuals were rushed to hospital and multiple homes were completely destroyed.
The main dumping ground for the city of two million residents had been officially scheduled for closure on Sunday, officials confirmed. Local residents had already received formal eviction notices, but many families remained in the vulnerable area when the tragic collapse occurred because relocation arrangements were incomplete. Territorial Administration Minister Dienabou Toure, who visited the site to oversee operations, stated that authorities would ensure all remaining families are promptly relocated to safer locations. Despite holding vast mineral wealth, including the world`s largest bauxite reserves, Guinea remains one of West Africa`s poorest nations, with nearly half its population living below the national poverty line.
Heavy overnight rainfall thoroughly saturated the unstable dumpsite, triggering the deadly landslide while most residents were fast asleep in their makeshift homes. Makeshift structures constructed from wood, tarpaulins, and corrugated metal sheets were crushed and buried beneath tonnes of heavy rubbish and mud. Rescue workers scrambled through the debris at first light, utilizing heavy excavators, shovels, and their bare hands to pull bodies and survivors from beneath the collapsed rubbish mountain. Survivors described scenes of utter panic in Conakry`s crowded neighborhoods, with families screaming for missing relatives as the pungent stench of waste and damp earth filled the atmosphere.
The disaster happened less than a week after local authorities declared the massive dump unsafe and announced comprehensive plans to close it permanently and relocate the waste mountain outside the capital. Guinea`s poor municipal infrastructure and rapid urban growth have continuously pushed vulnerable, low-income families to settle right beside the hazardous landfill, despite years of repeated warnings regarding the extreme risk of landslides and flooding. Environmental experts and local advocates have long criticized the lack of modern waste management systems in the West African nation, pointing out that urban planning failures directly contribute to such recurring tragedies.
International humanitarian agencies and regional bodies have expressed deep condolences over the loss of life, calling for urgent structural reforms and better housing support for displaced communities. As rescue operations continue through the wreckage, officials warned that the final death toll could potentially rise as search teams clear deeper layers of compacted waste. The government has initiated a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the delay in clearing the settlement and promised comprehensive assistance to all affected households in the coming days
