At least 31 killed: Huge rubbish dump collapses, homes buried
This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.
- At least 31 people have died after a rubbish mound collapsed onto homes in Guinea's capital, Conakry
- Twenty-two people were injured, including six who were seriously hurt, as rescue teams searched for survivors
- The collapse occurred after heavy rain, with authorities having previously ordered residents near the waste site to relocate
At least 31 people have died after a huge mound of rubbish collapsed onto homes near a major waste disposal site in Guinea's capital, Conakry.
The disaster occurred in the Dar-es-Salam neighbourhood at around 2am local time on Monday, August 24, following heavy overnight rainfall.
Another 22 people were injured, including six who sustained serious injuries, according to the Guinean government.
Authorities deployed significant resources to the scene, including military personnel, as emergency teams searched through tonnes of waste for people who may have been trapped underneath.
Excavators were brought in to clear the collapsed rubbish as anxious residents gathered around the site, hoping for news of missing relatives.
How did the Guinea rubbish dump collapse happen?
The collapse reportedly occurred in multiple stages, with the second section of the waste mound giving way after residents and other people rushed to the site following the initial collapse.
Eyewitness Robert Kamano Sâa told the Associated Press that people had climbed onto the rubbish to search for survivors when another section suddenly collapsed.
“People tried to come to the rescue after the first section collapsed. They came running and climbed onto the refuse to see if anyone was there,” he said, as reported by BBC.
Kamano Sâa said the second section then collapsed in three successive stages, sending a large amount of waste cascading onto people below.
The disaster buried several homes and left families searching desperately for missing relatives.
Mamadouba Bangoura, whose home was destroyed, said his family was awakened by the noise from the first wave of rubbish, which initially did not reach their house.
“Then the second wave came. That is what knocked over and pushed the house, and it fell,” Bangoura told Reuters.
“There were a lot of people buried. It is very, very difficult to talk about it because seeing a human being lose their life like that is pathetic. It is so painful.”
A woman also told local media that all five of her children were killed in the collapse, highlighting the devastating impact on families living close to the site.
Why were people living near the landfill?
The disaster has raised questions about safety around the waste site, particularly after authorities had reportedly ordered residents living nearby to relocate.
Despite the directive, many residents remained in the area.
Guinea has experienced a similar tragedy at the same site before. In 2017, a collapse killed 10 people, raising longstanding concerns about the safety of the landfill.
Guinean Prime Minister Mamadou Oury Bah visited the affected area to assess the situation and oversee rescue operations.
Health Minister Khaïté Sall also visited injured victims in hospital and said those affected would receive free medical treatment, while the government would support affected families.
Rescue teams continued searching through the waste as authorities feared the death toll could rise.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.