Seven killed in 'massive landslide' in Uganda: Red Cross

At least seven people were killed in a "massive landslide" after heavy rains in eastern Uganda Thursday, the local Red Cross said.

"The preliminary report indicates that the number is likely to increase from the reported seven but we are yet to establish the actual numbers," Uganda Red Cross spokeswoman Irene Nakasiita said in a statement.

Nakasiita described the situation as tense with "community members... scared and fleeing from their homes."

"In the meantime, the whole district, Bududa is still experiencing heavy downpour and we are expecting more of the same in other landslide prone areas."

Bududa district in the foothills of Mount Elgon, which lies on the border between Uganda and Kenya, is a high risk area for landslides.

At least 100 people were reported killed in a landslide in Bududa in March 2010 and in 2012 landslides destroyed three villages.

Government efforts to move vulnerable people to neighbouring districts have faced resistance from residents.

Colombia landslide kills 11
Bogota (AFP) Oct 11, 2018 - Eleven people were killed when a landslide swept away part of a town in central Colombia's coffee-growing region amid heavy rainfall, emergency officials reported Thursday.

Colombia's UNGRD disaster risk management unit said seven females and four males were buried in the landslide that struck the Los Andes suburb of the town of Marquetalia.

Four other people were injured.

Searches for possible missing persons were suspended because of continued heavy rains, it said.

The town is located in the coffee-growing department of Caldas.

"Of the 11 people dead, four were minors, six aged between 20 and 50 years old and one was an older adult," the UNGRD said in statement.

Marquetalia Mayor Luis Carlos Betancourt told journalists the mountain town had been hit by torrential rainfall late Wednesday.

The South American country is currently experiencing its second rainy season, with mountainous regions and part of the Caribbean coast on alert.

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