At least 50 individuals have lost their lives, and 125 are currently unaccounted for following landslides that struck three districts in southern Ethiopia after a week of intense rainfall, as per a local official’s statement on Thursday.
The affected areas within the Gamo Zone include the Gacho Baba District, Kamba District, and Bonke District, according to Mesfin Manuqa, the Gamo Zone director of disaster response. Amid the rescue efforts, only one person was successfully rescued from the mud.
Abebe Agena, the communication chief of the Gacho Baba District, mentioned that the majority of the deceased were discovered buried in the mud, with the exact number of affected households yet to be determined.
Tilahun Kebede, the president of the South Ethiopia Regional State, expressed condolences for the tragic event and advised residents to relocate to higher ground given the ongoing rainfall.
Considering the current rainy season, Kebede emphasized the potential for similar disasters and urged communities residing in elevated and flood-prone regions to take necessary precautions to safeguard themselves.
Ethiopia frequently experiences mudslides and floods triggered by heavy rains, particularly during the rainy season. In a similar incident in July 2024, 229 individuals lost their lives in a devastating mudslide caused by heavy rainfall in southern Ethiopia.
