Deadly Landslide in Conakry
At Least 30 Dead After Landfill Collapses in Guinea's Capital Following Heavy Rains
Key Points
Provisional death tolls varied by briefing: 22 dead reported initially, with subsequent briefings citing at least 30 dead.
The disaster description emphasizes the scale of the dump, with reports calling the mound a 'mountainous heap of refuse' that collapsed.
Heavy rains began around 3am, washing over the refuse and triggering the landslide that buried nearby shacks.
Lancine Sylla, head of the suburb where the incident occurred, confirmed that 18 bodies had been recovered and taken to the morgue.
The landfill at Dar es Salam is described as Guinea’s largest landfill, underscoring the scale of the site involved in the collapse.
At least 22 people died when a massive heap of garbage collapsed at Guinea's largest landfill in Conakry early Sunday morning. Al Jazeera reported that heavy rains beginning around 3am triggered the landslide at the Dar es Salam landfill in the Bbessia district, burying nearby shacks and forcing rescue crews to search through tons of refuse for survivors.
The death toll has climbed in subsequent reports, with France24 and RFI citing at least 30 dead and six injured, including six seriously hurt. Local authorities said rescue operations were continuing as they worked to recover more victims and confirm the final number of dead.
Heavy Rains Trigger Collapse of Mountainous Refuse Pile
A Yahoo News report described the disaster vividly: a mountainous pile of refuse collapsed after heavy rains began at 3am Sunday. The collapse buried shacks that had been built illegally near the landfill, trapping residents underneath tons of garbage and debris. Civil protection services rushed to the scene to begin digging through the refuse.
The Dar es Salam landfill is Guinea's largest dumping ground, making the scale of the collapse particularly severe. The heavy rainfall turned the massive heap unstable, causing it to slide down and bury everything in its path within seconds.
Residents Were Living Illegally Near the Dangerous Site
Families had built makeshift shacks right next to the landfill despite the extreme danger. The area had been marked for closure on the day of the collapse, showing authorities knew about safety risks. Local officials had recently tried to relocate or expel residents from the area due to repeated warnings about potential collapses.
Lancine Sylla, head of the suburb where the disaster struck, confirmed that at least 18 bodies had been recovered and taken to the morgue. France24 reported that the government planned to relocate all remaining families still living near the dangerous landfill.
Death Toll Rising as Search and Recovery Continues
Initial reports put the death toll at 22, but France24 and RFI later reported the number had climbed to at least 30 dead with six additional people injured. The variation in numbers reflects the ongoing nature of rescue operations and difficulty in confirming exact casualties amid the debris.
Rescue crews faced a massive challenge sorting through the mountainous pile of garbage to find victims. Authorities said they would provide updates as search efforts continued and the final death toll was confirmed. The disaster underscores the dangers of informal settlements built around dumpsites in developing countries.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativePublishers
22
Articles
66
Reach
88
