At Least 30 People Killed After Rubbish Mound Collapses on Homes in Guinea's Capital Conakry
- A mound of rubbish at a large waste site in Conakry's Dar-es-Salam area collapsed onto nearby homes, killing at least 30 people
- Guinea's government deployed military personnel and heavy equipment to search for survivors after the overnight collapse
- One woman told local media she lost all five of her children in the disaster, with fears the death toll could climb higher
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At least 30 people have died after a large mound of rubbish at a waste site in Guinea's capital, Conakry, collapsed onto houses in the Dar-es-Salam neighbourhood, the government confirmed.
The collapse happened at around 02:00 local time following heavy overnight rainfall. Another 22 people were injured, six of them seriously, according to a government statement.
Source: Getty Images
According to BBC, authorities described the response as significant, with military personnel and other resources deployed to comb through the debris in search of survivors.
Footage from the scene showed excavators moving through a scattered mountain of waste while local residents gathered to watch the search operation.
Guinea's Prime Minister visits scene
Prime Minister Mamadou Oury Bah travelled to the site to assess conditions on the ground and oversee rescue efforts in person.
Before his arrival, the area's neighbourhood leader, Lancine Sylla, had spoken to the AFP news agency and said he feared many lives had been lost. "We have pulled out 18 bodies that were taken to the morgue," he said.
One woman who spoke to local media described losing all five of her children in the disaster. Officials and residents have expressed concern that the final death toll could rise further as excavation work continues.
Not the first deadly collapse at this site
The Dar-es-Salam waste site has a history of deadly incidents.
A landslide at the same location in 2017 claimed the lives of 10 people, raising questions about the management of the site in a city that has long struggled with waste disposal infrastructure.
Source: Getty Images
Guinea bans export of raw gold
Legit.ng earlier reported that Guinea has announced a ban on the export of unrefined gold, a move aimed at strengthening its economy and creating more jobs. The policy, which takes effect immediately, was introduced after President Mamadi Doumbouya met with industrial and artisanal gold producers and buyers.
"Guinea will now require its gold to be processed within its own borders. Raw gold will no longer leave Guinea," he said, stressing that other countries have long benefited from processing and trading raw materials.
Source: Legit.ng
