Salone Moves To Verify Citizens Caught in Conakry Landfill Disaster

Salone Moves To Verify Citizens Caught in Conakry Landfill Disaster

The Government of Sierra Leone has launched an urgent verification effort following reports that its nationals may be among the casualties of a catastrophic landslide at a major landfill in neighboring Guinea.

The disaster struck on August 23, 2026, when torrential rainfall triggered the collapse of a massive section of the Dar-es-Salam landfill in Gbessia, a suburb of Conakry. The cascading mountain of waste engulfed adjacent residential structures and homes, killing at least 30 people and injuring dozens more.

Initial assessments by Guinean authorities confirm 30 fatalities, six severe injuries, and 16 minor injuries, with casualty figures expected to rise as search and rescue teams continue to navigate the debris.

In response to reports that Sierra Leonean citizens were caught in the disaster, Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation confirmed it is actively monitoring the crisis. The Sierra Leone Embassy in Conakry dispatched a high-level diplomatic delegation—led by the Deputy Ambassador and the Head of Chancery—to the site to liaise with Guinean officials, verify victim identities, and coordinate emergency support.

In Conakry, Guinean Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah inspected the devastated zone to oversee a multi-agency relief operation. Comprehensive emergency measures have been activated, deploying state emergency services, the Red Cross, national security personnel, and specialized medical units to locate survivors.

The tragedy has reinvigorated intense scrutiny over public safety at the Dar-es-Salam facility. Guinean authorities had previously announced plans to decommission and relocate the urban landfill due to recognized environmental and structural hazards, but implementation remained pending at the time of the collapse.

Guinean officials have urged public calm and cooperation with emergency services, while Sierra Leonean diplomatic representatives maintain close coordination on-site.