A landslide at the primary landfill in Conakry, Guinea, killed 30 people early Sunday morning after heavy rainfall caused a massive mound of waste to collapse onto surrounding homes. The central government released the updated casualty toll following the event at the Dar Es Salam open-air dump in the city’s Gbessia commune.
The disaster occurred at approximately 2 a.m. (0200 GMT) during torrential downpours. The resulting torrent of waste engulfed nearby tents, shacks, and houses, with witnesses reporting that the collapse was extensive enough to bury an entire apartment building. Emergency personnel were deployed to the scene for search and rescue operations.
In addition to the 30 confirmed fatalities, officials reported that six people were seriously injured and another 16 sustained lighter injuries. Lt. Col. Baldé Mamadou Bailo, the sanitation officer for the military engineering battalion, stated that the landfill—the largest in the capital—was officially scheduled to close on Sunday. While many residents had left following official eviction notices, several families remained in the area when the landfill failed.
For the survivors, the immediate change involves the total loss of housing and personal property, as well as the promised government relocation to other areas. Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization Dienabou Touré stated that the government would ensure remaining families are moved. This event highlights the physical risks associated with the rainy season in West Africa, where infrastructure in impoverished areas often fails under extreme weather conditions. The landfill had already been identified as a safety hazard prior to the collapse, leading to the closure order issued earlier in the week.
The disaster sets a precedent for the urgent closure and relocation of hazardous urban infrastructure in Guinea. Future policy will be shaped by the decision announced by Touré on Thursday to move waste disposal operations outside of Conakry to mitigate safety risks. While the government has launched major mining initiatives, such as the Simandou iron ore project, this event emphasizes the ongoing gap between industrial resource wealth and local municipal safety. Moving forward, the government must complete the relocation of waste and provide new housing for those displaced by both the landslide and the subsequent eviction orders.