Dozens of houses in six villages in Bulambuli district in eastern Uganda have been submerged in dry parts triggered by heavy rains.

More than 10 people have been killed and many more are feared dead after heavy rains triggered landslides in eastern Uganda.

The Uganda Red Cross Society said on Thursday that at least 13 bodies had been recovered after landslides “completely buried” 40 houses in six villages in the mountainous Bulambuli district the previous night.

Images from local media showed huge areas of fallen earth covering the land in Masugu village, about five hours’ drive from the capital, Kampala. Videos and photos shared on social media purported to show people digging for survivors in Kimono village.

The Uganda Red Cross Society said the rescue effort was continuing but the death toll was likely to rise.

Landslide Alert – Bulambuli District*

*November 28, 2024*

Following the heavy rains on November 27, 2024, a landslide hit the villages of Masubu, Nameche Trade Centre, Mamono, Tangalu, Buzemulili, Masoola in Bulganya Sub-County, Bulambuli District.

The incident left… pic.twitter.com/U2dtOFMSSw

— Uganda Red Cross Society (@UgandaRedCross) November 28, 2024

“We lost about 30 people,” district commissioner Faheera Mpalanyi told AFP news agency, adding that six bodies, including that of a child, had been recovered so far.

“Given the devastation and the size of the affected area and from what the affected families are telling us, several people are missing and probably buried in the rubble,” she said.

Heavy rains in recent days have caused flooding in the northwest after a tributary of the Nile River burst its banks, prompting the prime minister’s office to issue a disaster alert on Wednesday, saying the country’s main roads were cut off .

Emergency crews were dispatched to rescue stranded drivers.

A road linking the country to South Sudan was impassable late Wednesday, with emergency boat crews deployed near the town of Pakwach.

“Unfortunately, one of the boats capsized, resulting in the death of an engineer,” Uganda’s defense forces told X.