In brief
At least 30 people were killed when a huge mound of rubbish collapsed over houses in Conakry’s bustling Dar‑es‑Salam district. The government said the stormy overnight rain weakened the site, causing the disaster. Military and rescue teams are combing the rubble with heavy machinery, while residents and officials worry the death toll could rise further. The Prime Minister and local leaders have visited the scene, and the site has a history of deadly landslides, killing 10 people in 2017.
At least 30 people have lost their lives in Conakry after a massive mound of rubbish collapsed on nearby homes in the Dar‑es‑Salam district.
Police reports say 22 more were injured, six of whom required serious medical attention. The disaster struck at around 02:00 local time, after heavy rain overnight had further weakened the already unstable waste site.
In the aftermath, the military and emergency crews are wading through the disordered heap, clearing debris with excavators to find survivors. Local residents gather at the periphery, watching as teams slowly sift through the piles of garbage.
Prime Minister Mamadou Oury Bah has visited the scene, overseeing the search operations and urging a calm response amid growing uncertainty about the final death toll.
Neighbourhood leader Lancine Sylla expressed grave concerns, noting that thirty bodies are already on the morgue and the danger of further casualties remains.
The site has a tragic precedent, with a previous landslide in 2017 killing ten people. Forestry and sanitation officials are now under pressure to reevaluate waste management protocols in the capital.
Images of the collapsed mound and the rescue teams’ work accompany the reports, providing a stark visual of the disaster’s scale. The event continues to unfold as authorities search for more survivors and mourn the victims.
