Guinea rubbish landfill collapse kills 31

A rubbish mound at a major waste site in Conakry, Guinea's capital, collapsed early on Tuesday, claiming at least 31 lives and injuring 22 more, including six critically, according to the government. Heavy rain the previous night triggered the disaster, prompting a swift deployment of resources and personnel, including the military, to locate survivors.

One resident reported that her five children perished in the tragedy. The death toll is feared to rise further. Rescue efforts involved the use of excavators to sift through the scattered debris at the site, as neighbors gathered nearby. Guinea's Prime Minister Mamadou Oury Bah inspected the scene and directed search operations.

Neighbourhood leader Lancine Sylla expressed grave concerns about the heavy loss of life. The Health Minister Khaïté Sall assured that injured individuals would receive free medical care and emphasized the government's support. This incident echoes a tragic landslide at the same location in 2017, which claimed the lives of 10 people.

The government had previously ordered the relocation of residents living near the landfill site, but many chose to remain. Opposition leader and former Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo, currently in exile, described the accident as a "tragedy that plunges us into dismay," noting the tragedy's timing coincided with the scheduled closure of the landfill on Sunday, August 23rd. Rescue teams remain committed to searching for additional victims trapped within the waste.