Conakry: At least 30 people have lost their lives due to a tragic landfill collapse in Guinea's capital, Conakry, as reported by officials on Sunday. The disaster occurred when heavy rains overnight caused a massive pile of rubbish to give way at the Dar Es Salam landfill, engulfing nearby homes just before dawn.
According to Deutsche Welle, the collapse also left at least six individuals seriously injured. Guinea's minister for territorial administration, Djenabou Toure, was present at the scene where rescue workers, equipped with excavators, were diligently searching for additional bodies amidst the debris. The tragic incident has underscored the dangers associated with the landfill, which was already marked for closure.
The government had recently initiated the expulsion of residents living in informal housing near the landfill, anticipating potential collapses. Balde Mamadou Bailo, sanitation officer for the Military Engineering Battalion, confirmed that the Dar Es Salam site was scheduled for closure on the same day the disaster unfolded.
Heavy seasonal rains have been a known cause of landfill collapses in certain countries, with Uganda and Ethiopia having experienced similar catastrophic events in recent years.