Disastrous landslides in southern Ethiopia have killed at least 50 people and left 125 others missing following a week of heavy rains, a regional disaster official said Thursday. One person was rescued alive from the mud, according to the Gamo Zone director of disaster response.
The landslides struck districts in the Gamo Zone—Gacho Baba, Kamba and Bonke—said Mesfin Manuqa, the zone’s disaster response chief. Abebe Agena, communication chief for Gacho Baba District, said most victims were found buried in mud. It remains unclear how many households were affected.
Tilahun Kebede, president of the South Ethiopia Regional State, expressed sorrow over the disaster and urged residents to move to higher ground as rains continue.
“Given that it is the rainy season and these types of disasters could happen again, I am calling on communities living in the highlands and flood-prone areas to take the necessary precautions,” he said.
Mudslides and floods are common in Ethiopia during the rainy season. In July 2024, a deadly mudslide caused by heavy rain claimed the lives of 229 people in southern Ethiopia, highlighting the recurring threat from extreme weather events.