At least 50 individuals have lost their lives, and 125 are 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 include the Gacho Baba District, Kamba District, and Bonke District within the Gamo Zone.
Under the direction of disaster response coordinator Mesfin Manuqa, rescue operations were conducted, resulting in the successful extraction of one survivor trapped in the mud. Abebe Agena, the communication chief of Gacho Baba District, reported that the majority of the deceased were discovered buried under the mud, with the total number of impacted households yet to be determined.
Tilahun Kebede, the president of the South Ethiopia Regional State, expressed condolences over the tragic event and advised residents to relocate to higher ground amidst the ongoing rainy weather. He emphasized the importance of communities in elevated and flood-prone areas taking necessary precautions during the rainy season to mitigate potential disasters.
Ethiopia frequently experiences mudslides and floods triggered by heavy precipitation, particularly during the rainy season. In a previous devastating incident in July 2024, 229 lives were lost in southern Ethiopia due to a fatal mudslide caused by excessive rainfall.
