At least 50 individuals have perished, and 125 are currently unaccounted for following landslides that struck three districts in southern Ethiopia following a week of intense rainfall, as confirmed by a local official on Thursday. The landslides occurred in Gamo Zone, impacting the Gacho Baba District, Kamba District, and Bonke District, as reported by Mesfin Manuqa, the director of disaster response in the Gamo Zone. During the rescue efforts, one person was successfully rescued from the mud.
Abebe Agena, the communication chief of the Gacho Baba District, mentioned that the majority of the deceased were discovered buried in the mud, with the total number of affected households yet to be determined. Tilahun Kebede, the president of the South Ethiopia Regional State, conveyed his condolences over the tragedy and advised residents to relocate to higher ground due to ongoing rainfall.
“As we are in the midst of the rainy season, with the potential for similar disasters to occur again, I urge communities residing in elevated and flood-prone areas to take necessary precautions,” Kebede emphasized. Ethiopia frequently experiences mudslides and floods triggered by heavy rains, particularly during the rainy season. In a previous incident in July 2024, 229 lives were lost in a fatal mudslide caused by heavy rainfall in southern Ethiopia.