A landslide at a landfill in Guinea’s capital, Conakry, has killed 30 people after heavy overnight rains caused a massive mound of waste to collapse onto nearby tents and makeshift homes.
The disaster occurred at about 2am (0200 GMT) on Sunday in the Gbessia commune, according to a government statement. Six people were seriously injured, while another 16 sustained minor injuries.
Rescue workers used excavators and other equipment to clear the debris, with witnesses saying the landslide was large enough to bury an apartment building alongside more precarious dwellings.
One woman, Cire Diallo, told reporters at the scene that all five of her children were killed.
“I have lost all my children. All I can do is put my trust in God,” she said.
The tragedy came less than a week after the government announced plans to close the landfill and relocate the waste outside Conakry because of the dangers posed by the site, particularly during the rainy season.
Guinea’s minister of territorial administration, Djenab Toure, announced on Thursday that the landfill would be closed because it was unsafe.
Heavy rains regularly trigger landslides and deadly flash floods across parts of West Africa, particularly in densely populated and poorly developed urban areas.
The disaster also highlights the contrast between Guinea’s vast mineral wealth and its infrastructure challenges. The country holds the world’s largest bauxite reserves and the Simandou iron ore project, one of the world’s largest untapped iron ore deposits, was launched in November.
Despite its mineral resources, poverty remains widespread. 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.
