At least 13 people have been killed in a flash flood in eastern Uganda, but officials fear the actual death toll could be higher after 40 homes were swept away.
Landslides caused by heavy rains affected many villages in Bulambuli district, about 280 kilometers from the capital Kampala.
The Red Cross Society in Uganda says at least 13 people have died, but AFP says the death toll has reached 30.
A rescue operation is underway, the Ugandan Red Cross Society said on X.
Most of the bodies found are children, according to a local newspaper Daily Monitor.
Heavy rains have ravaged the East African country for the past few days.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja issued a dire warning on X.
“People are thought to be missing and some are feared to have been buried with photos,” he said.
Rivers have blown their banks, flooded schools and churches, destroyed bridges, and washed away villages.
The military has been sent to assist in the search and recovery.
On Wednesday, the security forces said on X that two boats were deployed to rescue a taxi that was stuck on a bridge.
Another boat capsized and an engineer died.
On Thursday at the House of Assembly, the speaker, Anitah Among, expressed her condolences to those who have lost their lives in the floods across the country.
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