GUINEA PRESIDENT VISITS LANDFILL DISASTER SITE AS FAMILIES SEEK HELP

Guinea’s President, Mamadi Doumbouya, has visited the Dar es Salam neighbourhood of Conakry, where a devastating landfill collapse killed at least 34 people and injured 33 others.

The disaster occurred in the early hours of Sunday after heavy rainfall caused a huge mound of rubbish at the landfill to collapse onto nearby homes. Six of those injured were reported to be in serious condition.

Doumbouya visited the affected area nearly a week after the incident, accompanied by a large number of soldiers who restricted journalists’ access to parts of the site.

Presidential spokesman, General Amara Camara, said the president made the visit to empathise with victims and affected families while also assessing whether instructions issued by the government following the disaster were being implemented.

The visit came as authorities continued efforts to clear the dangerous landfill and demolish homes located in areas considered vulnerable to further landslides.

The government plans to remove the rubbish from the site and transform the area into an urban park. Authorities have also announced plans to relocate about 1,500 families living around the landfill.

However, the relocation exercise has generated concerns among residents, with some families claiming they were given only 24 hours’ notice before their homes were scheduled for demolition.

Some affected residents said they were caught off guard when bulldozers arrived early in the morning to begin demolishing structures in the area.

One resident told AFP that members of her family had been forced to sleep outside in heavy rain after losing access to their home.

The situation has further complicated the aftermath of the landfill disaster, as families affected by both the collapse and subsequent demolitions are demanding government assistance to secure alternative accommodation.

Residents have also raised objections to plans for a mass burial of victims of the disaster.

Mamadou Mouctar Bah, a resident and spokesman for a committee representing affected families, said the victims should not be treated as anonymous individuals.

The committee has called for greater consultation with families before any mass burial is conducted. It has also demanded government assistance for displaced residents and compensation for property owners whose homes were destroyed or demolished.

Authorities have defended the evacuation and demolition exercise as necessary to protect people from another possible landslide, given the continuing risks associated with the landfill.

The government had already announced plans to close and clear the landfill because of safety concerns, particularly during the rainy season. The disaster occurred just as authorities were preparing to implement those measures.

Rescue teams have been working at the site since the collapse, using excavators and other equipment to search through the debris for victims and recover bodies.

The tragedy has renewed concerns about waste management, urban planning and the dangers faced by communities living close to large open-air dumps.

For the affected families, attention is now focused on securing proper housing, receiving compensation and ensuring that the identities and dignity of those who died are respected during the recovery process.

The Guinean government is expected to continue the evacuation and clearance of the area while working on plans to relocate affected families and convert the former landfill site into an urban park.