KAMPALA, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Ugandan military has joined the search and rescue operation in the eastern district of Bududa where landslides hit villages in Bukalasi and Buwali sub-counties on Thursday.

Troops are already at the scene and with more on the way to join the search for survivors, Capt. Isaac Oware, the third division army spokesperson told Xinhua by telephone on Friday.

According to police, the death toll had reached 35 on Friday morning. More than 30 people who sustained injuries are being treated at the Bududa Health Center and the Bukalasi Health Center.

"We are on the ground to team up with our other partners for the rescue operations. Others are in transit to the site to beef up the teams," Oware said, adding that they also need to secure the people and the area.

Police on Thursday deployed its teams to join the locals in the search for survivors and recover the bodies of the victims.

Landslides are a common occurrence in the Mountain Elgon region during the rainy season. The worst incident was recorded in 2010 where at least 300 people were killed by landslides in the Bududa district.