At least 18 individuals have lost their lives after a massive landfill site collapsed in the capital city of Uganda, according to the Uganda Red Cross. The incident occurred late on Friday, with the death toll expected to rise even further. The nonprofit organization reported the count as 18 on Sunday, but it was later confirmed by Uganda Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja that the number had increased to 20.

The tragic incident took place at the Kiteezi landfill, which serves as a vital waste disposal site for a significant portion of Kampala. Late Friday evening, the collapse resulted in injuries to 14 people, as reported by the Kampala Capital City Authority. Distressingly, it has been confirmed that two of the deceased were children.

A social media post from the prime minister's office has revealed that no additional survivors were found at the site on Sunday. The search for the missing individuals is ongoing, with four people still unaccounted for as of 6:30 p.m. local time.

The cause of the collapse is believed to be heavy rainfall, which destabilized the structural integrity of the landfill. The exact circumstances leading to the incident remain unclear; however, the city authority has stated that there was a "structural failure in waste mass."

Rescue efforts have been slowed down by continuous rainfall, further complicating the situation for the teams working tirelessly to retrieve victims from the heaps of trash. Irene Nakasiita, spokesperson for the Uganda Red Cross, has highlighted that the assessment of the situation is still ongoing.

The Kiteezi landfill is situated on a steep slope in an impoverished area of the city. Many women and children often gather there to scavenge for plastic waste in order to generate income. Some families have even built their homes in close proximity to the landfill, exacerbating the risks involved.

Authorities in Kampala have long considered closing down the Kiteezi landfill and establishing a larger waste disposal site outside the city since 2016. However, the reasons why these plans have not been implemented remain unclear.

In response to the tragedy, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has ordered an investigation into the incident. Taking to social media, he questioned why people were allowed to reside near such a hazardous and unstable garbage heap. Museveni emphasized that the effluent from the site alone should have rendered the area unfit for human habitation.

As the search for victims continues and the investigation unfolds, the collapse of the landfill serves as a devastating reminder of the urgent need for proper waste management and the safety of communities residing near such high-risk areas.