Dozens Dead in Landslides in Ethiopia

At least 50 people have died in landslides in southern Ethiopia, local officials report.

The landslides occurred after heavy rains in the remote mountainous area of Gofa zone on Sunday. 21 July evening and Monday July 22 2024 morning.

Search efforts are ongoing, with rescue teams and locals digging through the debris in hopes of finding survivors. Footage from the scene shows a partially collapsed hillside and exposed red earth, with hundreds of people gathered to help.

Meskir Mitku, the general administrator of Gofa zone, confirmed that the victims included women, children, and police officers.

Kassahun Abayneh, a government spokesperson for the Gofa district, detailed that the first landslide struck after heavy rain on Sunday night.

The second landslide occurred on Monday morning as locals, including police, gathered to aid those affected by the initial disaster.

The Gofa zone is located in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region (SNNPR), about 320 kilometers southwest of Addis Ababa.

This region has recently experienced significant rainfall and flooding, which has been exacerbated by climate change. Similar incidents of flooding and landslides have occurred in the past, including a deadly event in May 2016.

The search for survivors continues, and the death toll may rise as more information becomes available.