Landfill collapse kills at least 30, injures 22 in Guinea's capital

A landslide caused by heavy rain has claimed 30 lives at a landfill in the West African country of Guinea with 22 others injured.

Less than a week ago, its government announced plans to shut down and relocate the waste dump due to the safety threat it posed during the ongoing rainy season. A government statement says the incident occurred at around 2am Sunday in the Gbessia commune on the outskirts of Conakry, capital of Guinea.

Downpours began a few hours after midnight over the open-air Dar Es Salam refuse tip, the largest landfill in the city, prompting heaps of waste to collapse and engulf nearby tents and shacks.

A witness said people ran to the site after the first landslide, only for more collapses that trapped more people.

Search and rescue operations are continuing on the ground with the support of the Red Cross and the defence and security forces.

Crews scramble to clear the site using excavators and other tools to search for those who may still be buried, rescue victims and recover bodies.

Prime Minister of Guinea, Amadou Oury Bah, visited the landfill on Sunday to assess the situation and supervise the mobilisation of public services.

He expressed the government's solidarity with the bereaved families, urging people to stay calm and strictly follow the instructions of rescue services and competent authorities.