KAMPALA, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan police had dispatched search and rescue teams to Bududa district in eastern Uganda where landslides are feared to have killed scores of people on Thursday.
Patrick Onyango, Uganda's deputy police spokesperson, told Xinhua by telephone that an advance rescue team had been dispatched to the affected sub-counties.
Sowed Mansur, Elgon region police spokesperson, told Xinhua by telephone that the first teams at the scene had so far recovered 17 bodies and many more are feared to be buried.
Police suspended the search and rescue operation when night fell on the site.
Sowed Mansur, Elgon region police spokesperson, told Xinhua by telephone that it got dark to continue with the operation to look for survivors.
"We were still on until it became dark. There was no light to enable us to continue with the operation. We have suspended it and we shall resume tomorrow (Friday)," said Mansur.
On Thursday, Uganda's minister of disaster preparedness, refugees and relief Hillary Onek said preparations are being made to dispatch relief items to the eastern district.
Onek told Xinhua by telephone that arrangements are being made to send tarpaulins, blankets and food to the sub-counties that experienced the landslides triggered by a heavy downpour on Thursday.
"I will be traveling there tomorrow (Friday) morning to know why so many people have lost their lives and see how to safeguard the people that are threatened by the rain," Onek said.
Police said the death toll is likely to rise.
Onek said the residents of the hit area had earlier been warned to leave the area but they continued to go back.
Local media reports indicated a heavy downpour caused a river to burst its banks leading to the landslides.
Uganda National Meteorological Authority last month issued an alert about heavy rains, coupled with flooding, thunderstorms and lightening, leading to loss of lives and destruction of property.
The authority said that some mountainous parts of the country may experience landslides as the rain season enters peak.
Mountainous eastern Uganda occasionally experiences landslides during the rain season but the worst was recorded in 2010 where several landslides killed some 300 people and left thousands homeless.
