At least 30 people have died in a serious tragedy in Conakry, the capital of Guinea, after a mass of waste collapsed from a landfill and swept away nearby homes.
Over 20 people have been injured, while rescue teams continue searching among tons of debris, as it is suspected that there may still be people trapped.
The incident occurred after heavy rains, which appear to have caused the mass of debris to collapse. Authorities have launched search and rescue operations, while the bodies of the victims have been taken to the morgue.
Guinea’s Minister of Territorial Administration, Djenabou Touré, who visited the scene, said authorities will provide an official assessment once search and rescue operations are completed.
Warnings of the danger were apparently not enough. The government had earlier ordered the evacuation of residents and security measures around the landfill, due to fears of further collapses. Residents near the area were also sent notices to vacate their homes.
The landfill, one of the largest in the city, was scheduled to close on Sunday. However, many residents were still living in the surrounding area when the disaster struck.Top Channel