2024 Kiteezi landslide
  | |
| Date | 9 August 2024 |
|---|---|
| Location | Kampala, Uganda |
| Type | Garbage landslide |
| Cause | garbage piling, heavy rains |
| Deaths | 12+ |
On August 9, 2024, a garbage landslide occurred at the Kiteezi Landfill in Kampala, Uganda, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals, including two children. The landslide, triggered by heavy rainfall, caused a significant collapse of garbage at the site, which buried nearby homes, people, and livestock.[1]
The landslide at Kiteezi is part of a broader pattern of environmental and infrastructural challenges faced by East African countries due to heavy rainfall. Similar disasters have occurred in the region, including a devastating double-landslide in southern Ethiopia in July 2024 that claimed around 250 lives.[1]
Background
[edit]The Kiteezi Landfill, located in the northern district of Kampala, has been the city’s sole waste disposal site since its establishment in 1996.[1][2] Spanning 14 hectares (36 acres),[3] the landfill receives approximately 1,200 tons of waste daily from across Kampala. Over time, the site has become critically overburdened, leading to warnings from local officials about the dangers posed by the overflowing waste.[1]
In January 2024, Erias Lukwago, the ceremonial head of the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and Lord Mayor of Kampala, described the situation at the landfill as a "national crisis." He emphasized the health risks faced by individuals living and working near the site, urging for immediate intervention from the central government and Parliament. Despite these warnings, the landfill continued to operate under increasingly hazardous conditions.[1]
Landslide
[edit]On the evening of August 9, 2024, after a period of heavy rainfall, a section of the Kiteezi landfill experienced a structural failure. The collapse caused a large volume of waste to slide down the steep slope, engulfing nearby homes and residents while they were asleep.[1] The death toll was initially reported as eight, including two children, but by Sunday, August 11, four more bodies had been retrieved, bringing the total number of fatalities to 12.[3]
The KCCA confirmed that at least 14 people had been rescued and transported to hospitals for treatment, although their conditions were not disclosed.[1] The death toll was expected to rise as rescue teams continued to search for victims beneath the heaps of trash.[3] The KCCA stated that efforts to secure the area and prevent further incidents were ongoing.[1]
Aftermath and reactions
[edit]Images from the site depicted a somber scene, with a police excavator working to clear the debris while large crowds of residents looked on. Many gathered behind police tape, holding pictures of missing loved ones. The KCCA acknowledged the structural failure at the landfill and committed to assessing the full extent of the damage.[1] Approximately 1,000 people were forced to leave their homes due to the landslide, and the Uganda Red Cross has been providing tents and temporary shelter for those affected.[3]
The landslide has reignited discussions about the need for improved waste management and infrastructure in Kampala. Local authorities and environmentalists have called for immediate action to address the ongoing risks posed by the overburdened landfill and to prevent future disasters.[1]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "2 children among 8 dead in Uganda landfill landslide". Voice of America. 2024-08-10. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
- ^ Reuters (2024-08-10). "Landslide at landfill in Uganda's capital kills 13 people with other feared trapped". CNN. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ a b c d "Kiteezi landfill: Landslide at Uganda rubbish dump kills 12". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2024-08-11.