100 Killed in Ugandan Landslide
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Tuesday, March 02, 2010
More than 100 people have been killed in a landslide in the mountainous eastern region of Bududa in Uganda.
Minister for Disaster Preparedness Musa Ecweru has gone to the area to assess what help is needed. Rescuers are digging through the mud with handheld tools, looking for survivors and bodies.
Up to 60 children are missing. They took shelter in a health centre which was reportedly destroyed. Mr Ecweru said he had counted 58 bodies himself but local officials had told him at least 106 people have died.
He said the government had provided 100 coffins "to give the dead citizens a very decent burial".
More than 300 people are reported to be missing after their homes were buried in the area after recent heavy rains.
Correspondents say the region often suffers from landslides but this is an unusually high death toll.