CONAKRY, Guinea — August 24, 2026: At least 30 people have been killed after a massive mound of rubbish collapsed at a landfill in Guinea’s capital, Conakry, following heavy overnight rainfall.
The disaster occurred early Sunday morning at the Dar Es Salam landfill, the largest open-air waste dump in Conakry’s Gbessia commune. Torrential rain caused a huge section of accumulated refuse to give way, sending tonnes of waste crashing into nearby tents, shacks and homes.
Authorities said six people were seriously injured and another 16 suffered less serious injuries. Several homes were destroyed, while rescue teams continued searching through the debris for anyone who could still be trapped beneath the waste. Excavators and other emergency equipment have been deployed to the site.
The tragedy has raised serious questions about safety conditions around the landfill. The government had reportedly issued eviction notices to people living close to the site because of concerns about the danger of a collapse, particularly during Guinea’s rainy season.
Officials had also announced plans to close the landfill and relocate the waste outside Conakry, with the closure scheduled for the same day the landslide occurred. Despite the evacuation warnings, many residents were still in the area when the disaster struck.
Among the victims was reportedly a woman who told journalists that she had lost all five of her children in the disaster.
Guinea’s Minister of Territorial Administration, Dienabou Touré, said the government would work to relocate families who remain in the danger zone to safer locations. Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah also visited the site as emergency teams worked to assess the scale of the destruction and coordinate the response.
The disaster has renewed concerns over waste management, urban planning and the vulnerability of communities living close to large rubbish dumps. Guinea is rich in natural resources, including bauxite and iron ore, but many communities continue to face poverty and inadequate infrastructure.
As rescue operations continue, authorities are urging residents to remain calm and follow instructions from emergency services. The final impact of the disaster may not be known until search teams have completed their work.
The landfill collapse is now being described as one of Guinea’s deadliest recent waste-related disasters, highlighting the potentially devastating consequences when extreme weather combines with unsafe waste-management conditions.
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