Landslide at Guinea landfill kills 30, government says

A landslide at a landfill in Guinea’s capital Conakry killed 30 people after heavy overnight rains caused a massive mound of waste to collapse onto nearby tents and makeshift homes, the government said Sunday.

The landslide occurred around 2 a.m. (0200 GMT) in the Gbessia commune, according to a government statement. Six people were seriously injured and another 16 suffered minor injuries.

Rescue workers used excavators and other equipment to clear the debris as they searched for survivors. Witnesses said the landslide was large enough to bury an apartment building along with smaller makeshift structures.

“I have lost all my children. All I can do is put my trust in God,” Cire Diallo, a woman at the scene, told reporters after saying that all five of her children had been killed.

The disaster came less than a week after the government announced plans to close the landfill and move its waste to a site outside Conakry because of safety concerns. The decision came as Guinea enters a rainy season that regularly brings landslides and deadly flash floods to densely populated parts of West Africa.

Guinea’s Minister of Territorial Administration Djenab Toure announced the landfill’s closure on Thursday, describing the site as unsafe.

Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah visited the landfill on Sunday to assess the damage and oversee rescue efforts. The government urged residents to remain calm, show solidarity and follow instructions from emergency workers and authorities.

The tragedy highlights the challenges facing Guinea, a major mineral-rich country that nevertheless struggles with widespread poverty and inadequate infrastructure. Guinea has the world’s largest known bauxite reserves and the Simandou region contains one of the world’s largest untapped iron ore deposits.

A World Bank report published in April said about 3.7 million of Guinea’s 15.1 million people live on less than $4.20 a day.