The Uganda Red Cross on Wednesday confirmed eight people had died and the number likely to increase as several other people were reported missing in Kisoro district following a heavy downpour.

Uganda Red Cross Society spokesperson Irene Nakasiita on Tuesday said eight bodies had so far been retrieved.  The search continued for survivors and more dead after rescuers said a trapped child had been seen in the rubble.

“A child that was caught up by the mudslide while running; so no one knows where exactly to dig since he is still missing,” Nakasiita said.

She noted that four people who died were from Kabale and Rukeri villages and five from Buzeyi villages.

Kigezi Regional Police Spokesperson Elly Maate confirmed police were at the scene combing through the rubble and that the destruction was quite heavy.

He identified the victims as 4-year-old Gerida Muhawenimana, 2-year-old Ivan Ngabire, Claudine Uwizeyimana a 30-year-old Rwandese citizen, and her daughter 5-year-old Ntizandekura, all residents of Buzeyi village Kolanya trading center Lukongi parish Nyarusiza sub-county.

The others included 30-year-old Nyiransaba and her daughter 2-year-old Marion Musingize, 5-year-old Rafiki Mfite, and 4-year-old Mukamusoni residents of Rukere village Gitendere parish Nyarusiza s/c.

He identified the missing child as 11-year-old Joshua Eradukunda of Buzeyi village.

“The incident happened on Monday, January 24, 2022, from around 4:00 pm on words during a  heavy downpour where a number of houses and gardens were also destroyed. There is a likelihood that some other victims were rushed to hospital and their condition not yet known,” Maate said.

Nakasiita had earlier said the residents of Gasiza trading center in Nyarusiza Sub-County, Kisoro district had expressed fear after an unidentified number of people went missing last night following heavy flooding.

The water reportedly flew from Mt. Mahabura downstream, sweeping many houses and causing destruction.

She said due to flooding, a number of houses have been destroyed, some are submerged and some roads have been made inaccessible due to heavy stones, and mud.

“Our team continues to work alongside the community and Government Responders to support the affected community,” Nakasiita said.

Kigezi Regional Police Spokesperson Elly Maate confirmed police were at the scene combing through the rubble and that the destruction was quite heavy.

Kisoro Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Dan Ndikumwami said the main triggering factor for landslides in Kisoro was rainfall.

In March 2010, over 1,000 households were destroyed and 2, 000 people displaced from their houses in five sub counties of Kisoro district from landslides and floods that hit the area. The major sub counties affected included Nyarubuye, Kanaba, Murora, Nyabwishenya and Busanza.