At least 12 people have been confirmed dead following a landslide at the Kiteezi landfill in Kampala, Uganda’s capital.
The disaster occurred after weeks of heavy rainfall. Rescue teams are actively searching through the debris for additional survivors.
The Kiteezi landfill, covering 36 acres (14 hectares), is the sole waste disposal site for the entire city, which has a population of approximately four million residents.
Kampala Mayor Erias Lukwago said it was “a disaster [that] was bound to happen”.
The city authorities have reportedly been trying to find a new site for many years.
A huge hill formed by the build-up of rubbish collapsed late on Friday night, burying houses on the edge of the site while residents were asleep, reports the Reuters news agency.
On Saturday, the death toll was given as eight, including two children.
Kampala police spokesman Patrick Onyango told AFP on Sunday that four more bodies had been retrieved, while 14 people had been rescued.
“The rescue operation is still ongoing until we are sure no-one is trapped,” he said.
Mr. Onyango reported that around 1,000 people have been displaced from their homes due to the landslide, though he did not clarify how many were residing on the landfill site itself or in the surrounding area.
Many individuals earn a livelihood by sifting through the landfill for items that can be resold. The Uganda Red Cross is assisting those affected by providing temporary shelter in the form of tents.
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