A catastrophic collapse at a major waste disposal site in Guinea's capital has claimed at least 30 lives, with authorities warning that the final death toll may climb significantly as rescue operations continue. The disaster struck the Dar-es-Salam neighbourhood of Conakry at approximately 02:00 local time following heavy overnight rainfall, burying nearby residential structures beneath tonnes of accumulated refuse.
The government confirmed that 22 additional people sustained injuries in the incident, with six classified as seriously hurt. One woman reported to local media outlets that all five of her children perished in the collapse, underscoring the human toll of the tragedy.
Concerns about rising casualty figures stem from the possibility that additional victims remain trapped beneath the debris. A neighbourhood official, Lancine Sylla, conveyed to the international news agency that he anticipated substantial loss of life.
We have pulled out 18 bodies that were taken to the morgue,he stated during the initial response phase.
The Guinean government mobilised extensive emergency resources to locate survivors, deploying military personnel alongside civilian rescue teams. Excavation equipment was brought to the site to systematically search through the scattered waste, with local residents assembling nearby as operations proceeded.
Guinea's Prime Minister Mamadou Oury Bah travelled to the location to evaluate conditions firsthand and coordinate the ongoing search and recovery mission. His presence reflected the severity with which national leadership was treating the emergency response.
Historical context of site dangers
This represents the second major catastrophe at the facility. A similar landslide at the same waste site claimed 10 lives in 2017, indicating longstanding structural or operational vulnerabilities at the location. The recurrence of such disasters raises questions about safety measures and site management protocols.
The incident reflects broader challenges facing West African urban centres. Earlier this year, severe flooding across the region killed 59 people in Côte d'Ivoire amid torrential rains, while flooding in Ghana's capital claimed 13 lives as extreme weather events intensified across multiple countries.
Key facts
- At least 30 confirmed dead following the collapse at Conakry's waste site in the Dar-es-Salam area
- 22 people injured, including six with serious injuries
- Collapse occurred at approximately 02:00 local time following overnight heavy rainfall
- Military and civilian rescue teams deployed with excavation equipment to search for survivors
- A previous landslide at the same location killed 10 people in 2017
