300 feared dead in Uganda landslides

KAMPALA - At least 300 people, including dozens of children, were feared dead after heavy rain triggered landslides that swept through villages on the slopes of Mount Elgon in Uganda, officials said Tuesday.

The chairman of the eastern Bududa district, Wilson Watira, told the German Press Agency dpa that mud and boulders crashed through homes and health centres overnight in the villages of Nameti, Kubewo and Nankobe.

“We estimate that 300 people died,” Watira said. “As I speak, we are trying to rescue people. All the houses are buried and it is difficult to recover all the dead bodies from the rubble … the situation is terrible.”

Deputy Minister for Disaster Preparedness and Refugees Musa Eceru told dpa that over 70 bodies had been recovered by late Tuesday afternoon.

Around 250 people were missing, including 50 children who took shelter in a health centre that was buried beneath the mud, Watira said.

“The health centre where the children took shelter cannot even be traced,” he said. “It was totally smashed and is covered with mud.”

“Those rescued (out of the 250 missing) number only 14,” he added.

Rescue efforts are being undermined by lack of modern equipment, local officials said. People are using hoes and other small tools to remove the dead and injured.

The minister for the northern region, David Wakikona, who rushed to the scene, said that at least 10,000 people have been displaced.

The government is mobilizing aid and rescue equipment, including excavators to help alleviate the situation. The army has been ordered to help.

Landslides often occur on Elgon and also the mountains of the Ruwenzori range on the other side of the country during heavy rains, but this is by far the most serious incident.