A landslide at the Dar Es Salam landfill in Conakry, Guinea, killed between 22 and 30 people overnight on Aug. 22–23, 2024 [1, 2].
The disaster highlights the extreme vulnerability of informal settlers living on the margins of urban waste sites, where unstable terrain and poor infrastructure often lead to preventable tragedies.
The collapse occurred at the Dar Es Salam landfill, where a massive mound of waste gave way and engulfed nearby tents and shacks [1, 2]. Reports on the death toll vary; Reuters said 30 people died [1], while the Associated Press provided a provisional toll of at least 22 [2].
Heavy rains falling overnight are cited as the primary trigger for the landslide [1]. However, other reports indicate that a heavy train may have contributed to the collapse of the waste mound [3]. Rescue operations followed the event as teams worked to locate survivors among the debris.
Informal settlers often build temporary shelters near landfills to scavenge materials or due to a lack of affordable housing in the capital. The instability of these waste piles increases significantly during the rainy season, turning the mounds into hazards for those living at the base of the slopes.
Emergency responders and government officials arrived at the scene to manage the recovery of bodies and provide aid to the wounded. The exact number of injuries has not been finalized, though several people were reported wounded in the initial aftermath [1].
“A landslide at the Dar Es Salam landfill in Conakry, Guinea, killed between 22 and 30 people”
This event underscores the intersection of urban poverty and environmental risk in Conakry. The reliance on informal housing near waste sites creates a high-risk environment where natural weather events, such as heavy rain, can trigger catastrophic structural failures. The discrepancy in reports regarding the cause—ranging from weather to industrial activity like train traffic—suggests a complex failure of site management and urban planning.
