A massive collapse at the Dar Es Salam landfill in Conakry, Guinea, killed up to 30 people on Sunday [1].
The disaster highlights the extreme vulnerability of urban poor living on the margins of hazardous waste sites in the capital. Many residents had been living in shelters on the edge of the mound despite previous eviction orders from officials [2].
The landslide occurred early Sunday morning, Aug. 23, when a waste mound collapsed and buried nearby homes [3]. Reports on the death toll vary, with some officials and news outlets citing 30 fatalities [1], while other reports state 22 people died [4].
Heavy overnight rain is cited as the primary trigger for the collapse [5]. However, one report noted that a heavy train passing the mound may have also contributed to the landslide [2].
Survivors described scenes of devastation as rescue workers searched through the debris. One local woman who lost five children [6] spoke of her grief following the collapse.
"I have lost all my children," she said. "All I can do is put my head on the ground and pray" [2].
The Dar Es Salam site has long been a point of contention due to its proximity to residential areas. The scale of the collapse suggests a systemic failure in waste management and urban planning, leaving thousands of residents exposed to environmental hazards.
“A massive collapse at the Dar Es Salam landfill in Conakry, Guinea, killed up to 30 people on Sunday.”
This event underscores the intersection of climate-driven weather patterns and inadequate urban infrastructure in Guinea. As heavy rains become more frequent, the stability of unplanned waste sites like Dar Es Salam poses a recurring lethal threat to marginalized populations who have no other housing options, despite government warnings.
