ADDIS ABABA – The death toll from two devastating landslides in southern Ethiopia has surged to 229, with more casualties expected as rescue operations continue, a government official reported on Tuesday.
The landslides occurred following heavy rain in the Gofa zone of the Southern Ethiopia regional state. The first landslide struck on Sunday night, burying numerous people. A second landslide hit on Monday morning, trapping those who had gathered to assist in the rescue efforts.
“I don’t know when it will stop. We are still recovering bodies,” said Markos Melese, head of the National Disaster Response agency in Gofa Zone. “We are still digging.”
On Monday, officials initially reported at least 50 fatalities, including children and police officers.
Footage shared by the local administration depicted people digging with shovels and bare hands to retrieve bodies from the debris.
“The death toll surged after the people who came to rescue also got trapped,” said Misikir Mitiku, Gofa district administrator. “It is a very sad incident.”
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of life and announced that federal officials had been deployed to mitigate the disaster’s impact.
African Union chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat expressed solidarity with the Ethiopian people and government, stating, “We stand in strong solidarity with the people and Government of Ethiopia as rescue efforts continue to find the missing and assist the displaced.”
World Health Organization head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, an Ethiopian native, extended his condolences and announced that a WHO team had been sent to support immediate health needs.
Workneh Gebeyehu, executive secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, urged vigilance and adherence to safety protocols to protect lives and prevent further tragedies amid the region’s ongoing challenges with climate change.
