At least 30 people were killed after a massive landslide struck a landfill in Guinea’s capital, Conakry, following heavy rainfall, government officials said.

The disaster occurred early Sunday at the Dar Es Salam landfill, the largest waste disposal site in the city. Authorities said heavy rain began around 2 a.m., causing a huge pile of refuse to collapse and bury nearby makeshift homes.

Rescue teams were searching through the debris for possible survivors. Six people were seriously injured and several homes were destroyed, according to authorities.

The landfill is an open-air waste site that had been scheduled to close on the day of the disaster. Lt. Col. Baldé Mamadou Bailo, a sanitation official with the military engineering battalion, said authorities had already begun preparations to shut down the facility.

Residents living near the landfill had previously received eviction notices as part of efforts to clear the area. While some families had left, authorities said many people were still living near the site when the landslide occurred.

Rescue workers pulled victims from the rubble as the search operation continued. Officials said they would work to relocate families who remained in the area to safer locations.

Dienabou Touré, Guinea’s minister of territorial administration and decentralization, said the government would ensure that families still living near the landfill were moved elsewhere.

The disaster highlights the risks faced by communities living close to large waste sites, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall.

Guinea is rich in natural resources, including bauxite, for which the country has some of the world’s largest deposits. It also has significant reserves of iron ore, gold and diamonds.

Despite its mineral wealth, Guinea continues to face widespread poverty. According to the World Bank, 43.7% of the country’s population lives below the national poverty line.

SOURCE: The Associated Press, August 24, 2026.