Death Toll from Rubbish Heap Collapse at Guinea Landfill Rises to 34

The death toll from the collapse of a rubbish heap at a landfill in the Guinean capital has risen by four, bringing the total number of fatalities to 34.

According to AFP on Wednesday (26/8/2026), the deadly incident at the waste disposal site occurred in the early hours of Sunday (23/8/2026) in the Dar es Salam area of Conakry. A massive pile of rubbish suddenly collapsed following heavy rain, demolishing several surrounding houses.

Local residents told AFP that several families lost many members at once in the incident. The latest casualty figures were provided by Guinea’s Minister of Health, Khaite Sall.

In addition to local residents, Sierra Leonean nationals were also among the victims. The Guinean government plans to hold a mass burial for all the victims.

“We have contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which then contacted the Sierra Leonean Embassy to identify their citizens and evacuate the bodies,” Sall said.

Overall, around 1,500 families have had to be relocated as a result of the disaster. Just days before the deadly rubbish heap collapse, the government had actually announced plans for an operation to relocate residents and secure the area around the landfill due to the risk of landslides.