At least 30 people have been killed after a massive landfill collapsed onto homes in Guinea's capital, Conakry, following heavy overnight rainfall that triggered a deadly landslide of waste in one of the city's densely populated districts.
The disaster struck at around 2 a.m. in the Dar es Salam area of the Gbessia commune, where a huge mound of rubbish gave way and swept into nearby homes and makeshift shelters. Authorities said at least 22 people were injured, six of them seriously, while rescue teams continued searching for survivors amid fears the death toll could rise further.
In a statement on Sunday, the government said "significant" resources had been mobilised for the emergency response, including military personnel, rescue workers and heavy equipment.
Witnesses described scenes of devastation as rescuers combed through the debris. Images from the site showed excavators digging through mountains of scattered waste while anxious residents gathered nearby, awaiting news of missing relatives.
The collapse buried residential buildings, including an apartment block and several more fragile structures located close to the landfill.
Among the victims was the family of Cire Diallo, who told local media that all five of her children had died in the disaster.
"I have lost all my children. All I can do is put my trust in God," she said.
Prime Minister Mamadou Oury Bah visited the scene to oversee rescue efforts and assess the scale of the tragedy.
Local officials warned that the number of casualties could continue to rise as search operations progressed.
Neighbourhood leader Lancine Sylla told AFP that residents and rescuers had already recovered numerous bodies from beneath the waste.
"We have pulled out 18 bodies that were taken to the morgue," he said earlier in the day, before authorities confirmed a higher death toll.
The disaster comes just days after the government announced plans to close the landfill because of safety concerns, particularly during the current rainy season.
On Thursday, Territorial Administration Minister Djenab Toure said the site posed a danger to surrounding communities and announced that waste operations would be relocated outside Conakry.
The landfill has a history of deadly incidents. In 2017, another landslide at the same site killed 10 people.
Heavy seasonal rains frequently expose weaknesses in urban infrastructure across Guinea, where rapid population growth, inadequate waste management and widespread poverty leave many communities vulnerable to disasters.
Despite possessing some of the world's largest bauxite reserves and the vast Simandou iron ore project, Guinea continues to face significant economic and infrastructure challenges. According to the World Bank, millions of Guineans live in poverty, with many families residing in informal settlements that are especially exposed to environmental hazards.
As rescue efforts continue, authorities are working to determine how many people may still be trapped beneath the debris. The latest tragedy is expected to renew scrutiny of waste management practices and safety conditions around one of Conakry's largest landfill sites.
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