At least 30 people have been confirmed dead after a large mound of rubbish at a waste site in Guinea's capital, Conakry, collapsed onto houses in the Dar-es-Salam neighbourhood, according to a government statement. The collapse occurred at around 02:00 local time following heavy overnight rainfall, with another 22 people injured, six of them seriously.
Rescue Operations Underway
Authorities described the response as significant, with military personnel and heavy equipment deployed to search for survivors in the debris, as reported by the BBC. Footage from the scene showed excavators moving through a scattered mountain of waste while local residents gathered to watch the search operation.
Guinea's Prime Minister, Mamadou Oury Bah, travelled to the site to assess conditions on the ground and oversee rescue efforts in person. Before his arrival, the area's neighbourhood leader, Lancine Sylla, had spoken to the AFP news agency and expressed fears that many lives had been lost. "We have pulled out 18 bodies that were taken to the morgue," he said.
Community Devastation
One woman who spoke to local media described losing all five of her children in the disaster. Officials and residents have expressed concern that the final death toll could rise further as excavation work continues.
The Dar-es-Salam waste site has a history of deadly incidents. A landslide at the same location in 2017 claimed the lives of 10 people, raising questions about the management of the site in a city that has long struggled with waste disposal infrastructure.
Government Response and Broader Context
In a related development, Legit.ng earlier reported that Guinea has announced a ban on the export of unrefined gold, a move aimed at strengthening its economy and creating more jobs. The policy, which takes effect immediately, was introduced after President Mamadi Doumbouya met with industrial and artisanal gold producers and buyers. "Guinea will now require its gold to be processed within its own borders. Raw gold will no longer leave Guinea," he said, stressing that other countries have long benefited from processing and trading raw materials.
The collapse in Conakry highlights ongoing challenges with waste management infrastructure in the capital, and rescue teams continue to work through the debris as the community awaits further updates on the death toll.
