In brief
Recent landslides in Uganda and Kenya have claimed the lives of over 40 individuals, with many more missing. The disaster has left communities devastated and raised concerns about the risks of further landslides due to ongoing heavy rainfall. Efforts to rescue survivors continue amidst challenging conditions.
More than 40 people are now known to have died after multiple landslides struck Kenya and Uganda's mountainous border region last week. I lost a grandmother, a maternal aunt, an uncle, two sisters, a family friend and a cousin. They were staying together in Kaptul village, Felix Kemboi told the BBC on the Kenyan side. So distressed was the 30-year-old that he struggled to put the experience into words.
On both sides of the border, many people are still missing, and search and rescue teams have been mobilized amid warnings that more landslides could occur. As heavy rainfall continues to be experienced across several parts of the country, the risk of landslides, especially along the Kerio Valley region, is heightened, warns Kenyan Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen. He urged residents in affected areas to be cautious and local authorities are relocating those at risk to higher ground.
Fourteen schoolchildren were among those killed when two mudslides struck the Great Rift Valley area, according to the country's education ministry. Survivors in eastern Uganda have shared terrifying accounts, revealing the depth of the disaster's impact.
We were sleeping at night, we [heard] a huge sound. The neighbours came running: 'You wake up! The mountain is coming.' My niece and brother died, recalls Helda Narunga Masai. Her home in Kween village was destroyed in the mudslide, and she is now staying with a neighbor.
Uganda Red Cross workers have reported at least 18 fatalities in eastern Uganda, with searches for 20 others still ongoing across various districts. Local leader Mande David Kapcheronge mentioned that rescue efforts are being hampered as teams use rudimentary tools to navigate the piles of mud.
Experts warn against constructing homes in certain vulnerable areas in Uganda and Kenya, which are known to be prone to landslides. In response to this calamity, the Ugandan government is providing bereaved families with financial aid. Meanwhile, the Kenyan government has yet to announce compensation for either survivors or families of the deceased.
Additional reporting by Natasha Booty
