Authorities have mobilized significant emergency resources as rescue teams search through the debris for any remaining trapped individuals.
Guinea’s Prime Minister, Amadou Oury Bah, visited the site while excavators worked on the collapsed landfill. Residents gathered nearby to observe the ongoing rescue operation.
The government has also implemented measures to provide medical care for the injured and offer support to those affected by the disaster.
Prior to the official death toll announcement, neighborhood leader Lancine Sylla informed AFP that 18 bodies had already been recovered by rescuers.
“We have retrieved 18 bodies and moved them to the morgue,” Sylla stated.
Previous Warnings
This tragedy has raised concerns about safety around the landfill, especially since authorities had reportedly instructed residents to vacate the area recently due to fears of potential collapse.
Former Guinean Prime Minister and opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo, currently living in exile, described the event as a tragedy and urged for a transparent investigation into the collapse circumstances.
Diallo noted that the landfill’s closure had been reportedly scheduled for Sunday, August 23.
He urged authorities to ascertain what led to the disaster and to ensure lessons are learned from this incident.
Heavy Rains as a Contributing Factor
The government pointed to heavy rains as a contributing factor to the early morning collapse, which sent tons of waste and debris onto nearby homes.
This incident underscores the risks faced by communities residing near informal or overloaded waste disposal sites, particularly during heavy rainfall periods.
Guinea is presently under the leadership of General Mamadi Doumbouya, who assumed power following a military coup in 2021 and was elected president in December 2025.
Rescue and recovery operations continue as authorities determine if more individuals remain trapped beneath the collapsed landfill.
