Ethiopia Landslide Claims 55 Lives, Authorities Confirm Fatalities

Photo:  X / @addisstandard

In a tragic incident on Monday, a landslide in a remote area of southern Ethiopia has resulted in the deaths of at least 55 people, with local authorities warning that the number could increase. The landslide occurred at around 10:00 am (0700 GMT) following heavy rains in the mountainous region of South Ethiopia's Gofa zone.

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According to a statement from the Gofa zone Communications Affairs Department, local chief Dagmawi Zerihun confirmed that over 55 bodies have been recovered, but cautioned that the death toll might rise further. The disaster has reportedly affected women and children among the casualties. Rescue operations are ongoing, with efforts intensifying as search teams continue to dig through the debris.

Images from the scene, shared by state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate, depict hundreds of people at the site, where red soil has been displaced. Volunteers and rescuers are seen using their bare hands to sift through the dirt in hopes of finding survivors.

Gofa zone, located approximately 450 kilometers (270 miles) from Addis Ababa, is a 10-hour drive from the capital and lies north of Maze National Park. The region has been grappling with the impacts of short seasonal rains that began in April and continued into early May, causing widespread flooding and displacement. The UN's humanitarian response agency, OCHA, reported in May that these floods had affected over 19,000 people, leading to significant displacement and damage to infrastructure.

This region has a history of landslides, with a notable incident in 2018 where at least 32 people were killed in two separate landslides occurring within a week of each other.