A landslide at a garbage dump in Kampala, Uganda’s capital, has claimed the lives of at least 18 people, as authorities continue to search for survivors.
The tragic incident occurred two days after torrential rain triggered the collapse of a massive section of the Kiteezi landfill, Kampala’s only waste disposal site. The landslide buried residents, livestock, and homes as people slept.
On Saturday, officials reported eight confirmed deaths, but the toll has risen as rescue teams continue their efforts.
By Sunday, the number of fatalities had reached 18, according to the Associated Press.
“The rescue operation is still ongoing until we are sure no one is trapped,” said police spokesperson Patrick Onyango, as reported by AFP.
So far, 14 people and several animals have been rescued, but Onyango warned that more victims could still be buried beneath the debris.
“In our estimation, about 1,000 people have been displaced by the incident, and [we are] currently working with other agencies of government and the community leadership to see how to help the affected people,” he stated.
The Uganda Red Cross has set up tents near the site to provide shelter for those who lost their homes in the landslide.
For decades, Kiteezi has been the city’s only rubbish dump, transforming it into a towering hill of waste. Residents have frequently raised concerns about the environmental hazards and dangers posed by the site.
Kampala Mayor Erias Lukwago acknowledged on Saturday that the landfill had reached its capacity. “This is a disaster and was bound to happen,” he remarked.
Similar tragedies have occurred across sub-Saharan Africa due to poorly managed waste dumps.
In 2017, a landfill collapse in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, killed at least 115 people. Another disaster in Maputo, Mozambique, claimed 17 lives in 2018.
In southern
