At least 50 individuals have perished, with 125 others still unaccounted for, as landslides struck three southern Ethiopian districts after a period of intense rainfall, as per a local official’s statement on Thursday.
The affected regions include the Gacho Baba District, Kamba District, and Bonke District within the Gamo Zone, as confirmed by Mesfin Manuqa, the director of disaster response for the Gamo Zone. Amid the rescue efforts, only one individual was successfully rescued from the mud.
Abebe Agena, the communication chief of the Gacho Baba District, noted that the majority of the deceased were discovered buried beneath the mud, with the extent of affected households yet to be determined.
Tilahun Kebede, the president of the South Ethiopia Regional State, extended condolences for the tragedy and advised residents to seek higher ground due to the ongoing rains. Kebede emphasized the importance of taking precautions, especially for communities residing in elevated and flood-prone areas, given the recurrence of such disasters during the rainy season.
Ethiopia frequently witnesses mudslides and floods triggered by heavy downpours, particularly in the rainy season. In a similar event in July 2024, 229 lives were lost in a devastating mudslide caused by torrential rain in southern Ethiopia.