Guinea Buries 36 Victims of Conakry Landfill Collapse

Guinea has held a mass funeral for 36 people who died when part of a landfill collapsed in a suburb of the capital, Conakry, following heavy rainfall last month.

Thousands of mourners gathered on Friday to honour the victims, many of whom were asleep when the massive garbage dump in the Dar-es-Salam neighbourhood gave way overnight between August 22 and 23.

Authorities announced an updated death toll of 36 during the funeral ceremony, including 17 Sierra Leonean nationals among those who lost their lives.

The victims’ bodies were taken to a mosque in Bambeto, another suburb of Conakry, where Muslim funeral prayers were held before the burial.

The tragedy has left families and residents struggling to understand how the disaster occurred. Survivors and community members have described the aftermath as devastating, with many people losing relatives, homes and belongings.

Aboubacar Camara, who survived the collapse, said residents were deeply troubled by the disaster and uncertain about what to do next.

The funeral drew thousands of people, including relatives, religious leaders and government officials. Several grieving women were overcome with emotion during the ceremony as the community gathered to mourn those who died.

Conakry Governor General Mahawa Cisse expressed solidarity with the victims’ families, saying Guinea was mourning and sharing the suffering of those who lost loved ones.

After the prayers, the bodies were transported to Bambeto cemetery, where they were laid to rest.

The disaster has also created an ongoing humanitarian challenge. Around 20 people remain hospitalised, while more than 1,600 people have received assistance from the country’s emergency management agency.

Authorities have since taken steps to reduce the risk of another disaster in the area. Houses located in zones considered dangerous because of their proximity to the landfill have been demolished.

Officials say the operation is necessary to protect residents from further danger, particularly as the landfill remains a significant risk to surrounding communities.

However, affected residents have criticised the way the demolitions are being carried out. Some families have complained about the difficult conditions surrounding the operation and are calling on authorities to provide assistance to help them relocate.

The landfill collapse has renewed concerns about living conditions around waste disposal sites in densely populated parts of Conakry. Residents living near the dump have been exposed to risks associated with heavy rainfall, unstable waste piles and inadequate separation between the landfill and nearby homes.

As Guinea mourns the 36 victims, attention is now turning towards the families who survived the disaster and the thousands of residents whose lives have been disrupted.

The tragedy has also increased pressure on authorities to provide adequate relocation support and improve safety around vulnerable areas to prevent another loss of life.