Guinea rubbish landfill collapse kills 30
A mound of rubbish at a major waste site buried several homes in the capital, the government says.
A landfill collapse in Conakry, Guinea's capital, has resulted in the deaths of at least 30 people, with concerns that the number could increase as more individuals may be trapped beneath the debris.
The incident occurred when a large pile of waste at a major disposal site gave way, engulfing nearby residences in the city's Dar-es-Salam district. In addition to the fatalities, 22 people sustained injuries, with six of them in serious condition.
The government reported that the collapse happened around 02:00 local time after a night of heavy rainfall. Substantial resources and personnel, including military units, have been mobilized for search and rescue operations. One woman shared with local media that she lost her five children in the tragedy.
Rescuers were observed utilizing excavators to sift through the vast amount of scattered refuse at the site, while local residents congregated nearby. Guinea's Prime Minister, Mamadou Oury Bah, visited the scene to evaluate the situation and supervise the ongoing search efforts.
Earlier, neighborhood leader Lancine Sylla informed the AFP news agency of his apprehension regarding a high death toll, stating, "We have pulled out 18 bodies that were taken to the morgue." This site experienced a similar landslide in 2017, which claimed 10 lives.