Disaster strikes 4 days after Guinea evacuation order over dump

A massive waste pile collapsed in Conakry, the capital of Guinea, after heavy rainfall triggered a landslide at a garbage disposal site, burying nearby homes and makeshift shelters beneath tons of debris. Thirty people were killed and 22 others injured in the disaster, which occurred only four days after authorities had ordered the area evacuated.

Rescue teams search through debris

Emergency crews were dispatched to the site after the collapse, using heavy machinery to remove layers of waste and search for people trapped underneath. Local residents and volunteers also joined the operation as rescuers worked through the debris.

Authorities said the search and rescue effort was being conducted with assistance from government agencies, civil society organizations and Red Cross teams. The scale of the collapse made access to the affected area particularly difficult as workers cleared the unstable waste.

Evacuation order came days before tragedy

The timing of the disaster has raised questions over the implementation of an evacuation order issued just four days earlier. Guinea’s government had ordered the closure of the waste site and called for people living nearby to leave because of the risks posed by the facility.

Officials had warned that the rainy season was increasing the likelihood of landslides and flooding around the site. Plans were also being prepared to move accumulated waste away from the Guinean capital.

Collapse leaves dozens dead and injured

Despite the government’s warning, the garbage pile gave way before the evacuation process could prevent the loss of life. The collapse sent huge quantities of waste into the surrounding area, crushing structures and trapping people beneath the debris.

The disaster left 30 people dead and another 22 injured, according to the information provided by authorities. The incident has highlighted the dangers facing communities living near large waste disposal sites during Guinea’s rainy season.