Latest news Landfill landslide in Uganda - death toll rises to 22

Following the collapse of a huge mountain of garbage in Uganda's capital Kampala, the death toll has risen to at least 22. "We have recovered 22 bodies and many more are lying under the rubble," police spokesman Patrick Onyango told the German Press Agency. The Ugandan Red Cross also assumes that the number of victims will continue to rise. "The chances of finding survivors are close to zero," said spokeswoman Irene Nakasiita. The rescue work was continuing.

After heavy rain, huge amounts of garbage had come loose from the hill in Kampala's suburb of Kiteezi on Saturday and buried nearby houses. On Sunday, authorities initially reported at least 16 victims.

The Red Cross set up a camp to accommodate affected families. Rescue workers have been able to pull dozens of people alive from the rubble since Saturday. They now urgently need psychological and medical help, said Nakasiita.

The Kampala city council has been complaining for years about insufficient funds for waste disposal in the city, which has an estimated population of two million. The dumpsite in Kiteezi, about eleven kilometers from the city center, is reportedly the only landfill in the city. Residents complain about health hazards and pollution due to the mountain of waste.

SDA