Landslides in Kasese district claim 16 lives
At least 16 people have been confirmed to have died in the fresh landslides that hit Kasese district in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.
Irene Nakasiita, the spokesperson Uganda Red Cross (URC), revealed that they received a land slide alert at around 4:00AM from Kasese, Rukoki Sub-County, Kasika Village and URC dispatched a response team to support the affected families.
She added that the majority of the bodies recovered from the mudslide are mothers and children.
“From the assessment report, the death statistics show 2 male adults, 4 female adults, 3 male children and 7 female children,” said Nakasiita.
Nakasiita revealed that several houses were submerged on Tuesday night after heavy rains pounded Kasika village in Kigoro parish, Rukoki Sub-county, Kasese district.
Nakasiita noted that the victims who survived with injuries were referred to St. Paul’s Hospital Kasese Municipality where they are undergoing treatment.
She noted that several others are still missing, adding that the Uganda Red Cross response team is still on the ground working with local authorities and other responders in the community to search for the other missing persons.
She noted that the Uganda Red Cross has been giving out early warning alerts to communities that are at high risk, including mountain Rwenzori region where Kasese is found.
Nakasiita warned that such disasters might be on the increase in this month due to the expected heavy rains around the country and urged people living in disaster prone areas to vacate for the safety of their lives.
