Freetown, 25 August 2026 — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation is closely monitoring the situation following a devastating landslide at the Dar-es-Salam landfill in Gbessia, Conakry, Republic of Guinea, on 23 August 2026, which left dozens dead and many injured.
Heavy overnight rains triggered the collapse of a massive mound of refuse at Conakry’s largest open-air landfill in the early hours of Sunday. The waste cascaded onto nearby shacks and makeshift dwellings, killing at least 30 people according to the Guinean government (with some later reports citing 31 or 32 fatalities) and injuring more than 20 others, several seriously. Rescue operations involving excavators continued into the following days as authorities searched for any remaining victims.
The site had been flagged as dangerous. Guinean authorities announced plans to close the landfill and relocate the waste just days earlier, with the official closure scheduled for the same Sunday the disaster struck. Residents living around the dump had received eviction notices, though many remained in the area at the time of the collapse. Local voices later expressed frustration, saying warnings about the unstable waste mound had gone unheeded for some time.
In a press release issued today, the Sierra Leone Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted reports that Sierra Leonean nationals may be among those affected.
The Embassy of Sierra Leone in Guinea is working closely with Guinean authorities to verify this information. A team that includes the Deputy Ambassador and the Head of Chancery has already been dispatched to the affected area to assess the situation on the ground and provide appropriate support where needed.
“The Ministry will provide further updates as verified information becomes available,” the statement said.
For Sierra Leoneans with family or contacts in Conakry, particularly in the Gbessia area, the embassy remains the primary point of contact. The Ministry listed the following numbers for further information: +232 76 632659 or +232 30 300009.
Guinean authorities have deployed significant resources for search, rescue, medical care, and assistance to those displaced, with hundreds of affected people reported sheltering at temporary sites.
Sierra Leoneans are urged to stay in touch with relatives in Guinea and to contact the embassy or the Ministry for any verified assistance needs as more details emerge.
