Landfill Landslide in Guinea Kills 30 People

A landslide at a landfill in Guinea's capital, Conakry, killed 30 people early Sunday and the government said that after heavy overnight rain caused a massive mound of waste to collapse onto nearby tents and shacks.

The disaster struck around 2 a.m. at the Dar Es Salam landfill in the Gbessia commune the city's largest dump site. Six people were seriously injured and 16 sustained minor injuries. Rescue workers used excavators to search the debris, which witnesses said was large enough to bury an apartment building along with more fragile dwellings.

One resident, Cire Diallo said she lost all five of her children in the landslide.

The tragedy came just days after authorities announced plans to close the landfill and relocate the waste due to safety concerns, particularly during the rainy season when landslides and flash floods regularly strike underdeveloped, densely populated cities across West Africa. Officials said eviction notices had already been issued to nearby residents though many remained in the area when the collapse occurred.

Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah visited the site Sunday to assess the damage with urging residents to "remain calm, show solidarity and strictly follow the instructions of rescue services and the competent authorities." Minister of Territorial Administration Dienabou Touré pledged that surviving families would be relocated.

Guinea holds the world's largest bauxite reserves and significant iron ore deposits including the Simandou project launched last November. Yet the country remains one of the region's poorest with nearly 44% of its population living below the national poverty line, according to the World Bank.