At least 30 people have died and six others were seriously injured after a massive pile of garbage collapsed following heavy rains in the capital city of Conakry, Guinea, on Sunday. Several houses and vehicles were buried under the debris. Rescue teams are continuously working to remove the rubble, locate the victims, and transport the injured to hospitals.
Government officials reported that the garbage landslide occurred around 2 a.m. after torrential rains swept through the city’s largest landfill site. The collapse triggered a landslide that engulfed nearby huts and structures beneath the debris.
Rescue teams immediately arrived at the scene to search for the dead and injured and clear the wreckage. Ambulances are transporting the wounded to medical facilities. Some vehicles have also been trapped under the debris.
Guinea is a country rich in mineral resources, hosting the world’s largest reserves of bauxite. However, according to the World Bank, 43.7% of the population lives below the national poverty line. Rapid population growth in African cities like Conakry has hindered development of adequate waste management systems.
