Landslide At Guinea Waste Site Kills 30 After Government Had Just Promised To Move It

A devastating landslide at a massive waste dump in Conakry, Guinea's capital, has killed at least 30 people after heavy rainfall caused the site to collapse in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The mound of waste came crashing down around 2am local time in the Gbessia commune, according to a government statement reported by The Guardian. The collapse engulfed nearby tents and shacks where people were sleeping.

Six people are in serious condition, with 16 others suffering lighter injuries. Rescue workers are using excavators and other heavy equipment to search through the debris.

A Tragedy That Could Have Been Prevented

The timing of the disaster is particularly heartbreaking. Just last Thursday, Guinea's minister of territorial administration announced the government was closing the landfill because it was unsafe and relocating the waste outside Conakry.

The announcement came too late.

Witnesses at the scene described the landslide as large enough to bury an apartment building along with the more precarious dwellings that surrounded the dump site.

One woman, Cire Diallo, told reporters she lost all five of her children in the collapse. "I have lost all my children. All I can do is put my trust in God," she said, according to The Guardian.

The Rainy Season Threat

Landslides and fatal flash floods occur every year during the rainy season in crowded, underdeveloped cities across West Africa. The risks are well known, particularly at waste sites where unstable mounds can give way under heavy rainfall.

Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah visited the site on Sunday to assess the damage and supervise rescue efforts. The government has urged people to "remain calm, show solidarity, and strictly follow the instructions of rescue services and the competent authorities."

A Country Rich In Resources, Poor In Infrastructure

Guinea holds the world's largest bauxite reserves and richest untapped iron ore deposit at Simandou, where a massive mining project was launched in November. But despite its mineral wealth, the West African nation struggles with poor infrastructure and widespread poverty.

According to a World Bank report published in April, 3.7 million of Guinea's 15.1 million people live on less than $4.20 a day.

The disaster highlights the urgent need for improved waste management and urban planning in rapidly growing cities across the region, where vulnerable communities often live in dangerous proximity to hazards like unstable landfills.

Rescue operations continue as authorities work to recover victims and provide support to survivors who have lost their homes and loved ones.

Sources:

• The Guardian: Landslide at waste mound in Guinea capital kills 30, government says