Conakry, 24 August (H.S.):

At least 30 people have died and 22 others were injured after a massive pile of waste collapsed at a landfill in Guinea’s capital, Conakry, following heavy rainfall. Six of the injured are in critical condition, while 16 others sustained minor injuries. The incident occurred at around 2 a.m. on Sunday in the Gbessia area.

British newspaper The Guardian and China’s state-run Xinhua news agency, citing government officials, reported that a large section of accumulated waste suddenly collapsed following torrential overnight rainfall, burying tents, makeshift settlements and poorly constructed homes located nearby. Rescue workers have been using excavators and other heavy machinery to search for people trapped beneath the debris.

Sire Diallo, who lost all five of her children in the disaster, told reporters, “I have lost all my children. Now I can only put my trust in God.”

The disaster occurred only days after the government announced plans to shut down the landfill. Regional Administration Minister Zenabou Toure Camara said on Thursday that the site had become unsafe and that waste being brought there would be transported to another location outside Conakry.

During the rainy season, densely populated cities across West Africa face an increased risk of landslides and flash floods. Poor infrastructure and unplanned settlements often exacerbate the loss of life and property in such disasters.

Guinean Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah visited the site on Sunday. He assessed the damage and monitored ongoing relief and rescue operations. The Prime Minister urged residents to remain calm, maintain solidarity and follow instructions issued by rescue teams and the relevant authorities.

Rescue workers were using excavators and other equipment to clear the debris and search for survivors. Witnesses at the scene said the volume of debris was so large that it could have buried an apartment building along with several vulnerable homes.

A woman at the site said that all five of her children had been killed in the disaster. “I have lost all my children. Now I can only put my trust in God,” she said.

According to a World Bank report published in April, around 3.7 million people out of Guinea’s population of approximately 15.1 million live on less than $4.20 (Rs 401.70) a day.

Guinea has the world’s largest bauxite reserves and some of the richest untapped iron ore deposits at Simandou, where a major mining project was launched in November. Despite its substantial mineral wealth, the West African nation continues to face widespread poverty and inadequate infrastructure.

On Thursday, Regional Administration Minister Zenabou Toure Camara announced that the government was closing the landfill because it had become unsafe and that waste would be transported to another site outside Conakry.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar