At least 50 individuals have lost their lives, and 125 remain unaccounted for following landslides in three districts of southern Ethiopia due to recent heavy rainfall, as per a local official’s announcement on Thursday. The affected regions are Gacho Baba, Kamba, and Bonke Districts in the Gamo Zone, as detailed by Mesfin Manuqa, the director of disaster response in the area.
During the rescue efforts, one individual was miraculously rescued from the mud, mentioned Manuqa. Abebe Agena, the communication chief of Gacho Baba District, indicated that most of the deceased were discovered buried under the mud, with the extent of affected households yet to be determined.
Tilahun Kebede, the president of the South Ethiopia Regional State, expressed his condolences over the tragedy and advised locals to relocate to higher ground due to ongoing rainfall. He emphasized the importance of communities in elevated and flood-prone areas taking necessary precautions to mitigate potential risks associated with the rainy season.
Ethiopia frequently experiences mudslides and floods triggered by heavy precipitation, particularly during the rainy season. In a similar devastating incident in July 2024, 229 lives were lost in southern Ethiopia due to a mudslide caused by intense rains.
