A landslide buries buildings in outside Guinea’s capital, killing 11 and injuring 10
CONAKRY, Guinea — Tragedy struck a rural community outside the capital of Guinea when heavy rains triggered a landslide, causing devastation and claiming the lives of at least 11 individuals, authorities confirmed on Thursday. An additional 10 people sustained serious injuries, with fears that the death toll may rise.
The catastrophic landslide took place on Wednesday night in Maneah, a rural commune in the Coyah Prefecture, around 50 kilometers (31 miles) from Conakry, as reported by the National Agency for Emergency Management.
Local resident Kone Pepe recalled the harrowing event, stating, “Last night, it was around 7 p.m. It was raining, and suddenly I saw the mountain come off. It fell on the houses at the foot of the mountain. The mud buried the houses. No survivors came out alive.”
Search and rescue efforts were ongoing late into Thursday night.
Minister of urban planning and housing, Mory Condé, described the incident, stating, “It’s a part of the mountain that gave way under the effect of the rain and spilled onto the buildings,” while visiting the site.
The tragic event unfolded following heavy rains in the region and amidst ongoing record flooding in West Africa, which claimed the lives of over 1,000 individuals last year and displaced hundreds of thousands across the region.
Learn more about the West Africa flooding crisis here.
