At least 30 people have lost their lives and another 24 have been injured with varying degrees of severity as a result of a collapse that occurred in the early hours of Sunday at a landfill in the Guinean capital, Conakry, which has left several houses completely buried.
The incident took place around 2:00 AM on Sunday at the Dar es Salam landfill, located in the Gbessia commune, and, according to the Government in a statement, it would have been related to the heavy rains that fell in the area.
"This tragedy caused the collapse of several homes and, according to the provisional balance established at 4:00 PM, resulted in 30 dead, 6 seriously injured, and 16 lightly injured," the Government explained in an official statement. Most of the injured are being treated at the Donka University Hospital.
The authorities have indicated that "significant human and material resources" have been deployed in order to locate possible people trapped under the rubble and proceed with the recovery of the bodies.
"Operations continue on the ground, coordinated by the relevant state services with the support of the Red Cross, the Defense and Security Forces, medical teams, administrative and local authorities, and neighbors," it emphasized.
Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah has traveled to the site of the collapse to firsthand understand the situation and follow the work of public services on the ground. Oury has expressed his condolences and solidarity to the victims on behalf of the Government and President Mamadi Doumbouya.
The Government has asked the population to "remain calm, show solidarity, and strictly follow the instructions of emergency services and the competent authorities."