Garbage landslide in Guinea’s capital kills 30, injures 22

At least 30 people have been killed and 22 others injured after a landslide at a waste dump in Conakry, the capital of Guinea. The incident occurred after heavy overnight rain and buried a number of makeshift homes and tents in the surrounding area.

Reuters reported that the accident happened around 2 a.m. on Sunday in the Gbessia district. According to information from the Guinean government, among the injured, six are in critical condition and 16 suffered minor injuries.

Officials said the heavy rainfall caused a large mass of garbage to collapse. Rescue teams are using heavy machinery and other equipment to clear the area and search for people who may still be trapped under the rubble.

The Guinean government had announced days before the incident that the site would be closed because of the risks it posed, especially during the rainy season, and that waste would be moved outside the capital. Guinea’s Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah visited the site after the incident and urged people to remain calm and cooperate with rescue teams.

Conakry, the capital of Guinea, is in West Africa and faces the risk of flooding and landslides during the rainy season. Areas around waste dumps, especially in densely populated districts, are usually considered more vulnerable to such incidents.