AFRICA

Heavy Rains Trigger Deadly Landslides in Bulambuli District, Uganda

Uganda Red Cross workers search for bodies after a landslide following heavy rains buried 40 homes in the mountainous district of Bulambuli, eastern Uganda, Thursday, Nov. 28. 2024. (AP Photo/Irene Nakasiita)

At least 13 people have lost their lives in eastern Uganda following landslides that engulfed 40 homes across six villages, relief officials announced on Thursday.

The Uganda Red Cross Society confirmed that 13 bodies have been retrieved, and the search for more victims continues. Local media indicated that authorities anticipate the death toll could rise to 30. The landslides were triggered by heavy rains on Wednesday night in the mountainous Bulambuli district, a region prone to such disasters. This district lies approximately 280 kilometres (173 miles) east of the capital, Kampala.

According to reports, local officials have stated an excavator will be deployed to aid rescue efforts. However, roads remain obstructed by mud, and the rains persist. The affected area spans about 50 acres, encompassing both homesteads and farmland. Photos and videos circulated on social media show people digging through mud to find victims, with some houses completely buried and others only partially visible.

On Wednesday, the prime minister’s office issued a disaster alert, noting that heavy rains across the country had severed major roads. Additionally, two rescue boats capsized on Wednesday during a mission on the River Nile, where the Pakwach bridge had been submerged.

Frances Ibiefo