At least 30 people have died following a landslide at a landfill site in Conakry, Guinea, where heavy rains caused a massive garbage heap to collapse onto nearby homes.
A tragic landslide at a major landfill in Conakry, Guinea, has resulted in the deaths of at least 30 individuals. The incident occurred on Sunday when a mountain of garbage collapsed, burying nearby homes and trapping victims beneath the debris.
The landslide took place at Dar Es Salam, the largest waste dump in the capital city. According to reports from The Associated Press (AP), the weight of the refuse caused a three-story building to cave in. The situation was exacerbated by heavy rainfall that washed over the landfill overnight, creating dangerous conditions.
In addition to the fatalities, six people sustained serious injuries, and several homes were destroyed in the disaster. Authorities have initiated a search-and-rescue operation to locate any survivors who may still be trapped under the rubble.
Officials had previously warned of hazardous conditions at the landfill, which was scheduled to close on the same day as the landslide. Lt. Col. Baldé Mamadou Bailo, the sanitation officer for the military engineering battalion, confirmed that the decision to close the site was made following reports of similar incidents in recent years, raising significant safety concerns.
As a precaution, residents living near the landfill had been issued eviction notices and were instructed to vacate the area. However, many remained in the vicinity at the time of the disaster, according to various reports.
“We will ensure that the remaining families are relocated elsewhere,” said Dienabou Touré, the minister of territorial administration and decentralization, while addressing the situation at the scene.
This incident is not the first of its kind at the Dar Es Salam landfill. A similar landslide occurred in 2017, when torrential rains triggered a mudslide that resulted in the deaths of at least eight people.
The ongoing search for survivors underscores the urgent need for improved safety measures at waste management sites in Guinea, where heavy rains can lead to catastrophic events. The government faces increasing pressure to address the hazardous conditions that have plagued the landfill and to ensure the safety of nearby residents.
According to The Associated Press, the aftermath of this disaster will likely prompt a reevaluation of waste management practices in the region, as officials seek to prevent further tragedies.