Thirteen individuals have died in eastern Uganda due to landslides that buried forty homes in six villages. Rescue operations are ongoing, and authorities anticipate the death toll may reach thirty. The landslides were triggered by heavy rains in Bulambuli district, a region prone to such disasters, complicating recovery efforts as roads remain inundated.
At least thirteen individuals have tragically lost their lives in eastern Uganda due to landslides that buried approximately forty homes across six villages, according to local officials. Rescuers, including the Uganda Red Cross Society, have so far recovered thirteen bodies, with rescue efforts continuing, as authorities predict that the death toll could potentially escalate to thirty. The disastrous landslides occurred following heavy rains on Wednesday night in the mountainous Bulambuli district, an area frequently affected by similar disasters, located about 280 kilometers east of Uganda’s capital, Kampala.
Reports from local journalists indicate that efforts to assist in the rescue operation were impeded by mud-covered roads, although an excavator was requested to aid in recovery procedures. The impacted area, encompassing roughly twenty hectares, includes homesteads and agricultural land situated at lower elevations. Additionally, images circulated on social media show community members laboring through mud in search of victims, with some homes entirely obscured by debris, leaving only rooftops visible above the ground.
The Daily Monitor has reported that many of the bodies retrieved thus far belong to children. In response to the ongoing crisis, the Prime Minister’s office has issued a disaster alert, noting that persistent heavy rains throughout the nation have obstructed major roadways, complicating rescue and recovery efforts.
Landslides are a frequent hazard in Uganda, particularly in its mountainous regions, due to the country’s heavy rainfall patterns. These natural disasters often result in significant loss of life and property, as exemplified by the recent events in the Bulambuli district. The current situation underscores the need for improved disaster preparedness and response strategies in such vulnerable areas, especially to safeguard local communities against the impacts of extreme weather conditions.
The recent landslides in eastern Uganda have resulted in the deaths of at least thirteen individuals, with authorities bracing for a potential rise in the death toll as rescue operations persist. The humanitarian response is hindered by logistics challenges posed by the continued heavy rains, illustrating the greater need for systematic disaster management in regions susceptible to such catastrophes. Efforts to locate survivors and retrieve bodies are ongoing as the community rallies together in the wake of this tragedy.
Original Source: www.lismorecitynews.com.au
