At least 30 people were killed early Sunday after a massive pile of waste collapsed at the largest landfill in Guinea’s capital, Conakry, according to an updated death toll released by the central government.

The collapse occurred at the Dar Es Salam landfill after heavy rains began around 2 a.m. local time. Authorities said the rainfall swept over the mountainous heap of refuse, triggering a landslide that buried nearby makeshift homes and shacks.

A search-and-rescue operation was underway as emergency teams worked to locate possible survivors trapped beneath the debris.

Authorities said six people sustained serious injuries, while several homes were destroyed in the disaster.

The Dar Es Salam site is an open-air waste dump and the largest landfill serving Conakry. Its proximity to residential areas has raised concerns over the risks posed to communities living nearby.

Lt. Col. Baldé Mamadou Bailo, sanitation officer for the military engineering battalion, said the landfill had been scheduled to close on Sunday, the same day the deadly collapse occurred.

The disaster highlights the dangers posed by poorly managed waste disposal sites in densely populated urban areas, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall.

Rescue teams continued operations at the site as authorities assessed the full extent of the damage and searched for additional victims.  (ILKHA)