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At least 30 people were killed and 22 others injured after a massive garbage dump collapsed following heavy rain in Guinea’s capital, Conakry, authorities said Sunday.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday at the Dar-es-Salam waste site in the Gbessia area, after heavy overnight rainfall.
The collapsing mound of waste swept into nearby homes and settlements, trapping residents beneath the debris.
Six of the injured victims are reportedly in critical condition.
Rescue teams rushed to the scene and launched search and recovery operations. Authorities are continuing to search the debris for anyone who may still be trapped, raising fears that the death toll could increase.
Officials said residents in the high-risk area had previously been ordered to evacuate because of the danger posed by the unstable waste site.
However, several families remained in the area. Following the collapse, the remaining residents were moved to safer locations.
Dar-es-Salam is one of Conakry’s largest open waste disposal sites and has long raised safety concerns. Heavy rainfall significantly increased the risk of landslides and further destabilised the huge accumulation of waste.