Guinea’s Prime Minister, Amadou Oury Bah, has vowed to tighten construction regulations in high-risk zones following a devastating landslide in Manéah that left multiple casualties and significant destruction.
Visiting the disaster site on Thursday, the Prime Minister extended the government’s condolences and assured residents that immediate relief and long-term preventive measures were underway.
Rescue teams, including the Military Engineering Corps, Civil Protection units, the National Agency for Emergency and Humanitarian Disaster Management (ANGUCH), and local authorities, have been working tirelessly to locate the missing, evacuate the injured, and recover the bodies of victims trapped beneath the rubble.
“On behalf of the President of the Republic, the entire Government, and myself, we offer our sincere condolences to the bereaved families.
Our deepest sympathy goes out to the victims and their loved ones,” Mr Bah told reporters at the scene.
The Prime Minister warned that unregulated urban expansion had exacerbated the disaster, stressing the need for stricter oversight in construction.
“This tragedy highlights the danger of building in high-risk areas, such as riverbeds or the foothills of hills,” he said.
He pledged that “the Government will take all necessary measures to better regulate construction and prevent such tragedies from happening again.”
His statement signals a forthcoming tightening of urban planning laws, particularly in zones prone to flooding, landslides, and other natural risks.
Authorities also noted that prior clearance of the “Zagopé” landfill site had helped limit the scale of destruction caused by the landslide, describing it as a successful example of preventive action.
As emergency teams continue their search and recovery operations, the government has urged residents to cooperate with safety directives and remain vigilant in areas identified as vulnerable to natural disasters.
The tragedy has reignited debate in Guinea over the rapid, unregulated urban growth in key regions and the pressing need to improve both infrastructure resilience and disaster preparedness.
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