Ethiopia’s Gamo Zone has been rocked by landslides that officials said followed a week of heavy rains, leaving at least 50 people dead and 125 others missing as rescue teams worked in recent days’ disaster areas. Mesfin Manuqa, the Gamo Zone director of disaster response, said the landslides struck multiple districts, including Gacho Baba, Kamba and Bonke. Officials said rescue efforts continued even as the rainy season remained underway.
Manuqa said one person was pulled out of the mud alive during a rescue operation. Abebe Agena, Gacho Baba District communication chief, said most of the people who died were found buried in the mud, indicating that the disaster was concentrated in areas where people were quickly overwhelmed by the slide and resulting debris.
Agena said it was not yet clear how many households were affected, suggesting the full scope of the damage was still being assessed. With dozens reportedly killed and more than 100 others missing, authorities were still trying to account for people and communities in the affected districts, while search efforts continued.
Tilahun Kebede, president of the South Ethiopia Regional State, said he was saddened by the disaster and urged residents to protect themselves as the rains continued. In comments reported by AP, Kebede called on communities living in the highlands and flood-prone areas to take “the necessary precautions,” including moving to higher ground as these types of disasters could happen again during the rainy season.
Mudslides and floods caused by heavy rainfall are common in Ethiopia during the rainy season, and officials have repeatedly urged communities to prepare for conditions that can quickly turn dangerous. The AP report also noted a prior deadly episode in July 2024, when a mudslide triggered by heavy rain in southern Ethiopia claimed the lives of 229 people.
Elsewhere in Ethiopia, emergency officials have typically emphasized early movement away from flood-prone areas and ongoing monitoring as rainfall builds. As the Gamo Zone disaster response continues, officials said updated information on missing people and household impacts would depend on the ongoing search and recovery work.