Guinea Landfill Collapse Kills 30 After Heavy Rains Trigger Landslide

The collapse of a landfill in Guinea’s capital, Conakry, killed at least 30 people after heavy rains triggered a landslide on Sunday, August 23, 2026. The disaster struck the Bbessia district’s Dar es Salaam neighborhood, where a mound of rubbish slid onto nearby homes and shacks, burying them under tons of waste. Rescue operations continued as authorities worked to recover bodies and locate survivors.

Timeline of the Disaster

The landslide occurred around 2:00 a.m. local time, following days of heavy rainfall. The landfill, located on the outskirts of Conakry, had been under scrutiny for weeks. The government had ordered the evacuation of residents near the site due to fears of collapse, and plans to close the facility were announced for the same day as the disaster. Despite these measures, the site remained operational, with residents living in proximity to the waste pile.

Neighborhood leader Lancine Sylla reported that 18 bodies had been recovered before the official death toll was announced. “We have pulled out 18 bodies that were taken to the morgue,” he told AFP. The government later confirmed 30 fatalities. Sources differ on the number of injured: NDTV and TRT World report six injured, while Swiss outlet bluewin.ch cites 22 injured, with six in serious condition.

Government Response and Rescue Efforts

Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah visited the site, where excavators and military personnel assisted in search-and-rescue operations. A government statement emphasized the deployment of “significant material and human resources” to locate survivors, rescue victims, and recover bodies. Medical care and aid for affected families were also pledged.

Residents gathered near the site, hoping for updates on missing loved ones. A local woman told media that five of her children had died in the collapse. Authorities warned the death toll could rise as rescuers combed through the debris. The landfill, which had previously experienced a deadly landslide in 2017, had been a long-standing source of concern for nearby communities.

Opposition Criticism and Calls for Transparency

Former Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo, who is in exile, condemned the incident as a “tragedy that plunges us into dismay.” He criticized the government for failing to prevent the disaster, noting that the landfill’s closure had been scheduled for the same day. “It is now up to the competent authorities to establish, with full transparency, the circumstances that led to this disaster,” he said in a Facebook post.

The government had ordered evacuations in the weeks preceding the collapse, but residents continued to live near the site. The lack of immediate action to secure the area has raised questions about the effectiveness of safety measures. The disaster has reignited debates over urban planning and the risks faced by impoverished communities in Conakry.

Context and Broader Implications

The Dar es Salaam landfill had been the site of a 2017 landslide that killed 10 people, according to sources like eastleighvoice.co.ke. Officials had previously warned of the risks, yet the site remained operational. The current disaster has intensified calls for stricter oversight of waste management and infrastructure projects.

Guinea, a resource-rich nation with significant bauxite exports, remains one of Africa’s poorest countries. Despite its economic potential, many citizens lack access to basic services, including clean water and healthcare. The landfill’s collapse underscores systemic challenges in managing waste and ensuring public safety in rapidly growing urban areas.