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Death toll in Bundibugyo floods jumps to 17, several missing
This photo tweeted by Red Cross Uganda on Decmber 8, 2019 shows their team carrying the body of one of the victims of Bundibugyo floods.
What you need to know:
- The district chairperson, Mr Mutegeki Ronald, said on Sunday that several other people are still missing in Bumpomboli village, Harugale Sub County and Kirindi trading centre.
The search and rescue team in the western district of Bundibugyo have recovered five more bodies following heavy rains that have caused floods and landslides in the area. This brings the total number of bodies recovered so far to 17. However, local authorities said several people are still missing but search and rescue efforts are underway.
The floods and landslides have wreaked havoc in the district in a wake of heavy rains since last week.
River Tokwe also burst its banks following six-hour downpour on Saturday.
The district chairperson, Mr Mutegeki Ronald, said on Sunday that several other people are still missing in Bumpomboli village, Harugale Sub County and Kirindi trading centre.
Cpl Agaba Hannington, a community conservation ranger with Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) in Semliki National Park walks in a flooded compound with a woman and her two children after rescuing them following heavy rains in Bundibugyo. Uganda Red Cross Photo
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“It’s a very terrible and unfortunate situation. A lot of property including crops and houses have been destroyed, bridges have been washed away, roads submerged paralyzing the transport network,” Mutegeki said.
According to Mutegeki, the most affected sub counties are; Harugale, Tokwe, Kirumya,Ngamba, Bukonzo, Bubukwanga and Bundibugyo town council.
He asked people living in areas that are prone to floods and landslides to relocate to safe places and also revealed that the displaced locals are at the moment taking refuge at schools and churches.
The Bwamba County MP Mr Richard Gafabusa, said the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and minister of disaster have been informed to urgently distribute relief support to the affected communities.
The MP said Saturday that government had pledged to contribute Shs500,000 as burial expenses for those who died in the disaster.
Residents gathered at a scene where several people were reportedly buried by landside. Photo by Longino Muhindo
The Red Cross Bundibugyo branch manager, Ms Diana Tumuhimbise said on Sunday that more than 4,000 people have been affected in the district and are in need of assistance.
“Our team continues to recover more bodies including some that are trapped by cocoa trees in Bundibugyo hills. It is a very devastating moment. We have deployed a Psycho Social Support team to offer emotional support to those affected,” Uganda Red Cross tweeted on Sunday.
The district police commander Mr Swaibu Tsvangirai told Daily Monitor that they are still retrieving more bodies.
READ:
12 dead, scores missing in Bundibugyo floods
Uganda Red Cross on Saturday said their search and rescue team was working with the military to rescue stranded people as rains continue to pound different parts of the country
