Landslide at Guinea landfill kills 30, government says

A landslide at a landfill in Guinea's capital Conakry killed 30 people, the government reported on Sunday, following heavy rains the previous night that caused the collapse of a large pile of waste, engulfing tents and shacks. The tragedy unfolded around 2 am (0200 GMT) in the Gbessia commune of Conakry, according to an official statement.

Thirty individuals lost their lives, while six were in critical condition and another 16 suffered minor injuries, the statement added. Rescue efforts were ongoing at the scene, where witnesses described the landslide as extensive enough to bury an entire apartment building alongside less sturdy structures. One woman, Cire Diallo, conveyed to reporters at the location that all five of her children had perished. "I have lost all my children. All I can do is put my trust in God," she expressed.

Guinea, a country renowned for its vast bauxite reserves and substantial untapped iron ore deposits at Simandou, which launched a major mining initiative in November, contends with significant infrastructure deficiencies and widespread poverty. As reported by a World Bank study in April, 3.7 million out of its 15.1 million inhabitants live on less than $4.20 per day.

In response to the disaster, Guinea's Minister of Territorial Administration, Djenab Toure, announced on Thursday that the government is set to close the landfill owing to the imminent risks it poses, particularly during the ongoing rainy season, and announced plans to relocate the waste outside Conakry.