A landslide at a landfill in Guinea's capital killed 30 people, the government said on Sunday, August 23, 2026, after heavy rains overnight prompted the collapse of a massive mound of waste that engulfed nearby tents and shacks.
What Happened
The incident occurred at around 2 a.m. (0200 GMT) in the Gbessia commune of Conakry, according to a government statement. Witnesses said the landslide was large enough to bury an apartment building, along with more precarious dwellings that had been built near the site.
The Scale of the Tragedy
Along with the 30 confirmed deaths, six people were seriously wounded in the collapse. Rescue operations were continuing at the site as teams worked to search for anyone who may still be trapped, using an excavator to search through the debris at the Dar es Salaam dumpsite.
An Increasingly Common Risk
This kind of disaster, a landfill collapse triggered by heavy rainfall, reflects a genuine and growing risk in areas where informal settlements have developed near waste disposal sites. When large volumes of accumulated waste become saturated with water during heavy rain, the resulting instability can trigger sudden, massive collapses, often with little warning for people living nearby.
Rescue and recovery efforts remain ongoing, and authorities are expected to provide further updates on the situation as search operations continue at the site.
FAQs
Q1. How many people died in the Guinea landfill landslide?
The government confirmed 30 deaths, with six others seriously wounded in the collapse.
Q2. Where and when did the landslide occur?
The landslide occurred around 2 a.m. local time in the Gbessia commune of Conakry, Guinea's capital, following heavy overnight rains.
Q3. What caused the landfill to collapse?
Heavy rains overnight caused a massive mound of waste at the landfill to collapse, engulfing nearby tents, shacks, and even an apartment building.