At least 30 people have been killed after a massive pile of waste collapsed onto nearby homes in Guinea’s capital, Conakry, following torrential overnight rain, according to government officials cited by AFP. Authorities fear more people may remain trapped beneath the debris, raising concerns that the death toll could increase.
The disaster occurred at around 2 a.m. local time in the Dar-es-Salam area after heavy rain continued throughout the night. The enormous mound of accumulated waste collapsed under the impact of the rainfall, sending tons of debris onto surrounding homes and burying residents.
Local authorities launched a rescue operation immediately after the collapse was reported. Large numbers of rescuers, including military personnel, were deployed to the scene, while heavy machinery was brought in to accelerate the search for survivors.
Rescue workers have been using excavators to search through the vast quantities of waste for people who may be missing or trapped. The scale of the debris has made the operation extremely difficult, and officials fear the number of casualties could rise as the search continues.
Guinean Prime Minister Mamadou Oury Bah visited the site to assess the situation and receive updates from officials overseeing the rescue operation.
The disaster has caused widespread grief and fear among local residents. One grieving woman told local media that she had lost all five of her children in the collapse, underscoring the devastating impact of the tragedy.
The Dar-es-Salam waste site has experienced deadly accidents before. In 2017, a similar collapse at the same location killed 10 people. The latest disaster has renewed concerns over waste management, environmental hazards and public safety in the area.
Source: BBC