At least 50 individuals have lost their lives, and 125 are missing following landslides in three districts of southern Ethiopia after a period of intense rainfall, as per a local official’s announcement on Thursday. The affected districts are Gacho Baba, Kamba, and Bonke within the Gamo Zone, according to Mesfin Manuqa, the director of disaster response for the region. Amid the rescue efforts, one person was successfully rescued from the mud.
Abebe Agena, the communication chief of Gacho Baba District, revealed that the majority of the deceased were discovered buried in the mud, with the exact number of affected households yet to be determined. Tilahun Kebede, the president of the South Ethiopia Regional State, lamented the tragic event and advised residents to relocate to higher ground due to the ongoing rainfall.
“With the current rainy season and the potential for similar disasters to recur, I urge communities residing in elevated and flood-prone areas to take necessary precautions,” Kebede emphasized. Ethiopia frequently faces mudslides and floods triggered by heavy precipitation, particularly during the rainy season. In a previous incident in July 2024, 229 lives were lost in southern Ethiopia due to a devastating mudslide caused by heavy rains.