Fifteen people have now been confirmed dead following a landslide which hit the Manéah area of the town of Coyah, in the Kindea Region of the Republic of Guinea, about 50 km to the east of the capital, Conakry, at about 7.00 pm local time on Wednesday 20 August 2025. A further ten people are being treated in hospitals for serious injuries, and the number of deaths is expected to rise.The incident happened following heavy rains associated with the West African rainy season. Landslides are a common problem after severe weather, as excess pore water pressure can overcome cohesion in soil and sediments, allowing them to flow like liquids. Approximately 90% of all landslides are caused by heavy rainfall.
West Africa has a distinct two season climatic cycle, with a cool dry season during the northern winter when prevalent winds blow from the Sahara to the northeast, and a warm rainy season during the northern summer when prevalent winds blow from the Atlantic Ocean to the southwest. These warm winds from the Atlantic are laden with moisture, which can be lost rapidly when the air encounters cooler conditions, such as when it is pushed up to higher altitudes by the mountains of the Fouta Djallon in Guinea.
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