According to Reuters report on August 23rd, the Guinean government announced that a landfill in the suburbs of Conakry, the capital of Guinea, collapsed, resulting in 30 deaths and 22 injuries.
The accident occurred around 2 a.m. on the 23rd local time. Continuous heavy rainfall caused a landfill to collapse, burying tents and shelters in some nearby areas. Witnesses said the collapse was so severe that it could have buried an apartment building as well as more simple houses in the vicinity.
Previously, the Guinean government announced that it would close this landfill and plan to relocate the accumulated waste away from Conakry, as the facility posed a threat. Reports indicate that in West Africa, every year during the rainy season, collapses and floods occur in densely populated, underdeveloped cities.
Rescue workers are currently using equipment such as excavators to clear the scene. The Prime Minister of Guinea, Amadou Touré, has gone to the accident site to assess the damage and oversee the rescue efforts. The Guinean government called on the public to remain calm and united, and to strictly follow the instructions of the rescuers and authorities.
