[ad_1]
KAMPALA (Reuters) – At least 31 people were killed during a landslide on the slopes of Mt. Elgon, in eastern Uganda, is destroying houses and burying animals, a government official told Reuters on Friday.
Martin Owor, Commissioner for Disaster Preparedness and Management, said the landslide had hit a small town on the slopes of the mountain on Thursday afternoon.
"Most people were caught at the mall, the landslide pushed huge boulders into a river that overflowed and the waters swept the people," Owor added.
The region, located about 250 km from the capital, Kampala, is close to the border with Kenya and is prone to landslides. She suffered a major avalanche in 2010, killing at least 80 people.
Rescue teams are currently crisscrossing the area to search for and rescue survivors, Owor said.
"There are people who have been displaced and they need shelter, food and other support and we are moving that relief to the area."
Report by Elias Biryabarema; Edited by Paul Tait and Clarence Fernandez
