Rescuers recover a body as they search for survivors at the collapse of a garbage mound in Maputo, Mozambique, Monday, Feb. 19, 2018. A search began shortly after the garbage gave way, as officials believe more bodies were submerged under the Hulene garbage dump outside of Maputo, the Associated Press reported. It said five houses were buried in the disaster and that some families in the area have fled their homes for fear of another collapse. Fatima Belchoir, a national disaster official, said: “The mountains of garbage collapsed on the houses and many families were still inside these residences.”

Authorities are trying to help people who lost their homes, she said. The nearly 50-foot high Hulene dump is the only garbage dump for Maputo's 3.5 million people. The dump not only provides them with food but also goods to sell, our correspondent Jose Tembe explains. Municipal officials have previously discussed the closure of the dump.
A collapse at a garbage dump in Mozambique kills at least 17 people.