The death toll from a devastating landslide in eastern Uganda climbed to 17 Friday, with more than 100 people still missing after heavy rains triggered a massive earth movement that buried dozens of homes, a government spokesperson said.
The disaster struck Wednesday in Bulambuli district, about 300 kilometers east of Kampala, where at least 45 households were completely buried, according to the Uganda Red Cross Society. Local television footage showed vast areas of deep mud where homes and schools once stood, as survivors searched for missing family members.
“She was buried with the baby,” said Elgon County lawmaker Ignatius Wamakuyu Mudimi, describing how his niece and her newborn were among the victims.
Charles Odongtho, spokesman for the Office of the Prime Minister, expressed shock at the death toll, noting the government had warned residents about possible landslides at the onset of seasonal rains. The government has directed citizens in landslide-prone areas to relocate as the Red Cross and police conduct search-and-rescue operations.
The disaster follows unusually heavy rainfall across Uganda since October, causing widespread flooding. On Tuesday, the River Nile burst its banks, flooding a highway connecting Kampala to the northwest.
The mountainous region where the landslide occurred has a history of similar disasters, including a 2010 avalanche that killed at least 80 people. Deforestation and vegetation clearing for agriculture on mountain slopes have increased landslide risks in the area.
