KAMPALA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- At least 13 people were killed and six others seriously injured in landslides and mudslides triggered by torrential rains in several villages in western Uganda between Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the police and a relief agency.
"The police have visited the scenes. We are working with the local leaders and disaster management committees to respond to the situation," said Elly Matte, Kigezi regional police spokesperson, in a statement Wednesday.
Irene Nakasiita, spokesperson for Uganda Red Cross Society, said assessment teams have already reached the affected areas to coordinate relief efforts.
Uganda last month issued a disaster alert warning that several parts of the east African country will face floods, landslides, mudslides, hailstorms, and lightning as the first rain season starts.
According to the Ministry for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, parts of eastern, central, western regions and the Lake Victoria basin would experience near-normal to above-normal forms of rainfall up to May.
Heavy rainfall is likely to lead to the destruction of farmland, crops and a surge of water-related diseases such as typhoid, cholera, dysentery and malaria.
