Guinea landfill landslide kills 30, government says

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

The incident occurred less than a week after the government announced plans to close the site and relocate the waste because of the danger it posed, particularly during the rainy season, when landslides and deadly flash floods frequently hit crowded, underdeveloped cities across parts of West Africa.

The landslide occurred at about 2am (0200 GMT) in the Gbessia commune of Conakry, according to a government statement. Six people were seriously injured and another 16 sustained minor injuries, it said.

Rescue workers used excavators and other equipment to clear the site, with witnesses saying the landslide was large enough to bury an apartment building as well as nearby makeshift dwellings.

Cire Diallo, a resident, told reporters that her five children were killed.

“I have lost all my children. All I can do is put my trust in God,” she said.

Guinea has the world’s largest bauxite reserves and the vast Simandou iron ore project, but continues to face poor infrastructure and widespread poverty. A World Bank report published in April said 3.7 million of the country’s 15.1 million people live on less than $4.20 a day.

Guinea’s Minister of Territorial Administration, Djenab Toure, announced on Thursday that the landfill would be closed because it was unsafe and that the waste would be relocated outside Conakry.

Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah visited the site on Sunday to assess the damage and oversee the response.

The government urged residents to remain calm, show solidarity and follow instructions from rescue teams and authorities.