A deadly landslide at a rubbish dump on the outskirts of the Guinean capital. Screenshot from YouTube

Garbage Landslide Engulfs Homes in African City, Killing Scores

The disaster was foreseeable and 50 years in the making. Sections of the landfill had collapsed before, including a 2017 incident that killed at least 8–10 people under similar rainy conditions.

Published: August 24, 2026, 2:11 pm

    A massive landslide of garbage has devastated a residential neighborhood in a suburb of Conakry, the capital of Guinea, claiming the lives of at least 31 people and injuring 22 others.

    According to a report by the French newspaper Le Monde, the disaster was triggered by prolonged heavy rainfall that destabilized a giant landfill overlooking the area. Saturated by days of rain, the enormous pile of waste suddenly shifted and surged downhill. The resulting torrent of garbage, mixed with mud and debris, crashed into nearby residential buildings, collapsing walls and burying dozens of people under tons of refuse.

    Residents described a sudden roar followed by darkness as homes were overwhelmed in moments. Families were trapped inside as the flow of waste filled rooms and blocked exits. Emergency crews arrived quickly and began digging through the unstable mound in search of survivors. Some 22 injured have been taken to local hospitals, where some remain in critical condition.

    The catastrophe points to failures in Guinea’s urban planning, waste management, enforcement of safety measures, poor infrastructure despite its mineral wealth and explosive population growth. Officials had flagged the high risk of landslides at the site and urged residents to evacuate the zone. The La Minière landfill was built on a former quarry in 1980, and intended to last only 20 years. Almost half a century later, Conakry continues to dump its 1,600 tonnes of garbage there every day.

    The tragedy has once again drawn attention to the urgent need for proper waste management and housing solutions in one of West Africa’s most densely populated cities. As searchers continue to recover bodies, this African community faces the longer-term question of how to prevent the next catastrophe.

    All rights reserved. You have permission to quote freely from the articles provided that the source (www.freewestmedia.com) is given. Photos may not be used without our consent.

    Consider donating to support our work

    Help us to produce more articles like this. FreeWestMedia is depending on donations from our readers to keep going. With your help, we expose the mainstream fake news agenda.

    Keep ​your language polite​. Readers from many different countries visit and contribute to Free West Media and we must therefore obey the rules in​,​ for example​, ​Germany. Illegal content will be deleted.

    If you have been approved to post comments without preview from FWM, you are responsible for violation​s​ of​ any​ law. This means that FWM may be forced to cooperate with authorities in a possible crime investigation.

    If your comments are subject to preview ​by FWM, please be patient. We continually review comments but depending on the time of day it can take up to several hours before your comment is reviewed.

    We reserve the right to del​ete​ comments that are offensive, contain slander or foul language, or are irrelevant to the discussion.

    No comments.

    By submitting a comment you grant Free West Media a perpetual license to reproduce your words and name/web site in attribution. Inappropriate and irrelevant comments will be removed at an admin’s discretion. Your email is used for verification purposes only, it will never be shared.

    Africa

    Not Black Enough: South Africa’s Coloured identity

    The intra-Black racism against Coloured people in South Africa has contributed to the community’s enduring sense of marginalisation.

    South Africa’s infrastructure 30 years after the end of Apartheid

    LondonHating South Africa was part of growing up in North London in the 1980s. Pelle Taylor and Patrick Remington from Two Raven Films, recently interviewed South Africans about the decline of the country after Apartheid ended.

    Nigerian President: More weapons for Ukraine end up in Africa

    LagosSome time ago, FWM reported on arms deliveries to Ukraine, which shortly afterwards were resold on the Internet. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has warned that "weapons used in the war in Ukraine are gradually leaking into the region" and called for strengthened border security.

    Namibia sees opportunity to attract German energy refugees

    Windhoek"The former German colony, Namibia wants to help Germany in its energy crisis". This is how an article in the online edition of a German newspaper recently began about Namibia's new "Digital Nomad" visa. The six-month visa is ideal for long-term holidaymakers. And for professionals who have their office on their laptop and can work from anywhere.

    Uneven global population growth reaches 8 billion

    According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), we celebrated the 8 billionth day* on November 15. The planet's population is still increasing dramatically, albeit at a decreasing pace.

    French fuel debacle spills over to Senegal

    DakarThe recent events at the French embassy in Burkina Faso were yet another demonstration against France on the African continent after France was ousted from Mali. All it took was a rumour to attract the sympathy of the population and demonstrators to head to the French Embassy.

    New South African drone to compete with Turkey’s Bayraktar

    PretoriaThe South African defense company Milkor unveiled its Milkor 380 reconnaissance and attack unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). It is expected to become a competitor to Turkey's Bayraktar and Anka drones.

    Bucking the trend: Uganda bans work by LGBT group

    KampalaThe Ugandan government has banned the activities of a local non-governmental organization that campaigns for the rights of sexual minorities. According to a senior official, the organization worked illegally in the African country.

    South Africa: 82 suspects arrested after a mass rape

    KrugersdorpDozens of black men ambushed a film crew at an abandoned mine near Johannesburg on Friday. They raped eight models between the ages of 19 and 35. As they fled, the police shot dead two suspects and 82 other people were arrested.

    BRICS expansion on the cards

    More and more emerging countries are considering joining the BRICS group, which is seen as the major emerging countries' counterweight to the US-led West and the G7. Especially in times like these, this is also a clear signal to Washington.

    Go to archive