Floods kill 12 people in western Uganda

News24
07 Dec 2019, 23:41 GMT+10

Twelve people have been swept to their deaths by floods in western Uganda, the Red Cross said on Saturday, as the East African country is battered by torrential rain.

"We have recovered 12 bodies from the water and one person has been rushed to hospital with serious injuries," said Diana Tumuhimbise, Red Cross branch manager in the Bundibugyo district.

"The rain started last night and continued until 9:00 am (0600 GMT)," she told AFP on Saturday.

"Several houses have been swept away, roads have been blocked and some washed away completely."

The Red Cross has launched a search and rescue operation with the police, military and community members in 12 affected areas but it is not yet clear how many people are missing.

Rain is hampering communication in the remote location, on the border with DR Congo and separated from the rest of Uganda by the Rwenzori mountains.

At least 20 people have been killed as a result of floods and mudslides in the last week in Uganda.

The extreme weather has been blamed on the Indian Ocean Dipole - a climate system defined by the difference in sea surface temperature between western and eastern areas of the ocean.

At the moment, the ocean around East Africa is far warmer than usual, resulting in higher evaporation and moist air flowing inwards over the continent as rain: the hallmarks of a "positive" dipole.

Scientists warn that as ocean temperatures rise because of climate change, Indian Ocean dipoles will become more frequent and severe.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Zimbabwe Star.

More Information

null in null

International

Section

Multiple Israeli troops die as armored personnel carrier is blown up in Gaza

Seven Israeli soldiers killed in explosive attack in Gaza

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza - Seven Israeli soldiers were killed in a large explosion in southern Gaza's Khan Younis area on Tuesday night,...

Khamene remains in hiding as clerics fast-track succession plans

Iran scrambles to secure Khamenei's successor

DUBAI, U.A.E.: Iran's top clerics are quietly accelerating succession plans for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was threatened...

Monsoon floods batter China, raising climate concerns

China issues red alerts as floods hit major provinces

BEIJING, China: Extreme weather is once again testing China's resilience, as intensifying monsoon rains trigger floods across major...

UK and France issue heat warnings as temperatures climb

Heat warnings issued in UK and France as temperatures soar

LONDON/PARIS: British and French authorities have warned people to stay safe as an early summer heat wave brings unusually high temperatures...

Muslim bloc calls on Israel to sign Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty

OIC to form contact group despite Israel-Iran ceasefire

ANKARA, Turkey: Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) announced it would form a new...

Trump goes on social media to announce Israel-Iran ceaeefire

U.S. president announces ceasefire between Israel and Iran

WASHINGTON DC, - U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed a ceasefire has been reached between Israel and Iran. He made the claim on...

Africa

Section