By our reporter
Kampala
A devastating landslide at the Kiteezi landfill site on the outskirts of Kampala has claimed the lives of over 100 people, with many more feared trapped beneath the rubble.
The disaster occurred late Friday evening, when a chunk of garbage broke off from the city’s only landfill site, crushing and burying homes on the edge of the site as residents slept. Rescue efforts have been ongoing since Saturday morning, with excavators working tirelessly to dig out survivors and retrieve bodies.
According to police spokesperson Patrick Onyango, the death toll had risen to 13 by Saturday morning but eyewitnesses report that the number of fatalities has surpassed 30.
Magembe Rajab an eyewitness, told our reporter that by 11th August,saturday evening, 30 bodies had been retrieved from the site. He also revealed that they suspect the garbage to have heated due to underneath heat waves that resulted into an eruption opposed to the heavy rains theory.
The Kiteezi landfill site has been a source of concern for residents and authorities alike, with years of neglect and mismanagement leading to hazardous waste polluting the environment and posing a danger to nearby residents.
Efforts to procure a new landfill site have been delayed, leaving the city’s waste management in a state of crisis. Similar tragedies have occurred elsewhere in the world, highlighting the need for urgent action to address the issue of poorly managed garbage.
Irene Nakasita, the Uganda Red Cross Society spokesperson revealed that they have tirelessly worked and successfully put up emergency and temporary tents for the affected homes and to provide emergency medical services.
“The Uganda Red Cross has set up tents nearby to provide shelter for those displaced by the landslide, but many more are feared to be trapped beneath the rubble. The true extent of the tragedy is yet to be determined, as rescue efforts continue” added Nakasita.
