Landslide in Guinea Claims Over 30 Lives
A tragic landslide in Conakry, Guinea, has resulted in the deaths of at least 30 people. The disaster struck on Sunday when an open-air landfill, known as Dar Es Salam, collapsed, burying nearby homes and trapping many residents under debris.
The incident occurred after heavy rainfalls during the night, which weakened the structure of the landfill. Reports indicate that the weight of the garbage caused the ground beneath to give way, leading to the collapse of multiple structures in the vicinity.
Six individuals suffered serious injuries, and several homes were destroyed in the landslide. Emergency services have launched a search and rescue operation to find any survivors still trapped.
Authorities had planned for the landfill’s closure on the same day, as conditions had become increasingly unsafe, according to military sanitation officer Lt. Col. Baldé Mamadou Bailo. This decision followed past incidents at the landfill, which raised alarms about its stability.
In a precautionary step, residents living near the landfill had received eviction notices, urging them to leave the area due to safety concerns. Sadly, many remained in their homes when the landslide occurred.
Dienabou Touré, the minister of territorial administration and decentralization, assured the public that measures would be taken to relocate families affected by the disaster.
This was not the first incident of its kind at the site; a similar situation happened in 2017, when heavy rains caused another mudslide that resulted in several fatalities. As the community grapples with this heartbreaking event, efforts to rescue those missing continue.
