At least 50 individuals have perished, and 125 remain unaccounted for following landslides that struck three regions in southern Ethiopia after a week of intense rainfall, as stated by a local official on Thursday.
The landslides occurred in Gamo Zone, impacting the Gacho Baba District, Kamba District, and Bonke District, as reported by Mesfin Manuqa, the director of disaster response in Gamo Zone.
During the rescue operation, one individual was successfully rescued from the mud, according to Manuqa. Abebe Agena, the communication chief of the Gacho Baba District, noted that most of the deceased were discovered buried in the mud, and the extent of households affected remains uncertain.
Tilahun Kebede, the president of the South Ethiopia Regional State, expressed his condolences for the tragedy and advised residents to relocate to higher ground due to ongoing rainfall.
“As we are in the rainy season and susceptible to similar disasters, I urge communities in elevated and flood-prone areas to take necessary precautions,” Kebede emphasized.
Ethiopia frequently experiences mudslides and floods due to heavy rains, particularly during the rainy season. In a tragic event in July 2024, 229 lives were lost in southern Ethiopia due to a fatal mudslide triggered by heavy rainfall.