Landfill Collapse in Guinea Leaves 31 Dead

In a tragic incident in Conakry, Guinea’s capital, a collapse of a rubbish mound has resulted in at least 31 fatalities, according to government reports. The disaster occurred early in the morning, around 02:00 local time, following heavy rainfall that affected the area.

The affected location is in the Dar-es-Salam district, where an unwieldy mound of waste suddenly gave way, burying numerous homes and residents underneath. In addition to the confirmed deaths, another 22 individuals have sustained injuries, six of which are considered severe.

The government has mobilized significant resources, including military personnel, to facilitate search and rescue operations aimed at locating any survivors trapped beneath the debris. Eyewitness accounts reveal a chaotic scene as locals rushed to assist after the initial collapse, only to be met with a subsequent wave of rubbish cascading onto them. As one witness, Robert Kamano Sâa, described, “People tried to come to the rescue; that was when the second section collapsed in three successive stages, cascading down. And that is what poured onto the people.”

This sentiment of disbelief and sorrow was echoed by Mamadouba Bangoura, who lost his home to the disaster. He recounted the harrowing experience of hearing a loud noise just before the rubbish struck, saying, “[Then] the second wave came. That is what knocked over – pushed the house – and it fell.”

The situation has prompted Prime Minister Mamadou Oury Bah to visit the scene, assessing the crisis and overseeing rescue efforts. “It is very, very difficult to talk about it because seeing a human being lose their life like that is pathetic, it is so painful,” added Bangoura, reflecting the somber mood among those affected.

Lancine Sylla, a neighborhood leader, has also voiced concerns about the rising death toll, fearfully noting that earlier recoveries had already confirmed 18 bodies taken to the morgue. This tragedy comes as the government had recently ordered residents living near the landfill to evacuate, a directive that many did not follow, unfortunately putting them at greater risk.

Health Minister Khaïté Sall visited the injured at local hospitals, promising them free medical care and assured families of government support during this difficult time. The government has faced scrutiny over the management of the landfill, which has experienced previous collapses, including a similar incident in 2017 that resulted in the deaths of ten people.

Cellou Dalein Diallo, a notable opposition figure and former Prime Minister currently in exile, has referred to the accident as a “tragedy that plunges us into dismay,” stressing a growing concern over the safety measures surrounding the landfill. Diallo pointed out that the closure of the site had been announced for Sunday, 23 August, casting further doubts on the competency of local authorities in handling such hazardous situations.

As rescue operations continue, the community remains in shock, grappling with both the loss and the reality of the dangers posed by their living conditions.