A deadly landslide struck Dar Es Salam, the largest landfill in Guinea’s capital, Conakry, early Sunday after heavy rains caused a massive pile of waste to collapse, killing 30 people, according to the central government.
The rains began around 2 a.m. and swept across the landfill, triggering the landslide that buried nearby shacks. Six people were seriously injured, several homes were destroyed, and search-and-rescue teams continued working to find survivors.
Authorities said the open-air landfill had been scheduled for closure on Sunday. Residents living nearby had already received eviction notices, but many remained in the area when the disaster occurred.
Territorial Administration and Decentralisation Minister Dienabou Toure said authorities would relocate the families still living near the site.
Guinea is rich in bauxite, iron ore, gold, diamonds and other minerals. However, despite its vast mineral wealth, 43.7% of the population lives below the national poverty line, according to the World Bank.
