At least 30 people have been killed after a massive pile of rubbish collapsed at Conakry's largest landfill in Guinea.

According to a report, the disaster occurred early Sunday at the Dar Es Salam waste site after heavy overnight rain triggered a landslide, sending tonnes of waste cascading onto people and nearby homes.

Residents and eyewitnesses rushed to the site in search of survivors, but parts of the unstable landfill continued to collapse. Eyewitness Robert Kamano Saa said rescuers were calling out to determine whether anyone was trapped when another section of the landfill gave way in several stages.

Six people were seriously injured and several homes near the landfill were destroyed, according to authorities. Emergency teams launched a search-and-rescue operation, combing through the huge piles of waste for people who may have been trapped beneath the debris.

The Dar Es Salam landfill had been scheduled to close on Sunday, while residents living in the surrounding area had already been ordered to relocate.

— BBC