About 15 people have been confirmed dead while 18 others are reported missing following landslides that hit Kasese district, Western Uganda.
Heavy rains on Tuesday night caused a landslide in Kasika village, Kigoro parish in Rukoki Sub-county, resulting in the tragic incident.
“We received a landslide alert that came in at around 4:00AM from Kasese, Rukoki Sub-County, Kasika Village. A few households are feared buried and some people are said to be missing. We dispatched a response team to support the affected families,” said the Uganda Red Cross Society on Wednesday morning.
Red Cross has so far recovered 15 bodies.
Six injured people were rescued and referred to St. Paul’s Hospital in Kasese Municipality for treatment.
“Search and rescue continue as 18 are feared missing,” said Red Cross noted.
“15 dead bodies recovered from the landside affected community. Response action teams continue to offer rescue services together with the local authorities and community responders. The majority of the dead are mothers and children,” added Red Cross.
In September 2021, around 270 people were displaced from their homes after heavy rain caused the Nyamwamba river to break its banks.
In August of the same year, people died when the Nyamughasana, Dunguluha and Mubuku rivers burst their banks. Around 20 households were displaced.