Deadly Landslide at Conakry Landfill Kills at Least 30
A landslide at a Conakry landfill killed at least 30 people after heavy rain. Rescue operations are underway.
At least 30 people have been killed after a massive pile of refuse collapsed at the largest landfill in Conakry, Guinea's capital, early Sunday morning. The disaster occurred at the Dar Es Salam open-air dump, which had been scheduled for closure the same day.
Heavy rains that began shortly after midnight are believed to have triggered the initial landslide. Witnesses described a harrowing scene as the first section of the waste mountain gave way, prompting residents to rush forward to search for anyone trapped.
Eyewitness Robert Kamano Sâa recounted that as people climbed onto the debris to call out to potential survivors, the mound collapsed again in three successive stages, cascading down and burying those who had come to help.
Authorities have launched a search and rescue operation, with excavators working through the debris as anxious local residents wait for news of missing relatives. Six people have been seriously injured, and several nearby homes were destroyed in the collapse.
The site had been slated for closure, and many residents living in the vicinity had received eviction notices and relocated. However, a significant number of people remained in the area at the time of the disaster, according to officials.