At least 30 people have been killed and 22 others injured—six of them critically—after a massive trash heap collapsed due to heavy rainfall in Conakry, the capital of the West African nation of Guinea.
The catastrophic landslide occurred around 2:00 AM on Sunday (August 23), when the collapsed wall of waste swept over nearby tents and temporary shelters, burying several residents.
Prime Minister’s Inspection: Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah visited the disaster zone to oversee search and rescue operations, urging citizens to remain calm and cooperate with emergency services.
Prior Government Plans: Authorities had planned to decommission the landfill site just days prior due to severe risks of landslides and flash flooding during the rainy season, but the disaster struck before the relocation could be completed.
Economic Contrast: Despite holding the world’s largest bauxite reserves and massive unexploited iron ore deposits in Simandou, Guinea faces severe infrastructure vulnerabilities. According to World Bank estimates, approximately 3.7 million citizens live in extreme poverty.
