Tragic Landslides in Southern Ethiopia Claim at Least 229 Lives

Kassahun Abayneh, the government spokesperson for Gofa district, explained that the initial landslide occurred on Sunday night, causing significant casualties. On Monday morning, as locals, including police officers, gathered to rescue those affected by the first landslide, a second landslide struck, resulting in further fatalities.

Meskir Mitku, the district general administrator, confirmed that women, children, and local police were among the deceased. The Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) shared photographs depicting scores of people on a barren hillside searching for survivors.

Markos Melese, head of the National Disaster Response agency in Gofa Zone, expressed the ongoing nature of the rescue efforts. “We are still recovering bodies,” he told Reuters, highlighting the continuous danger and difficulty faced by the rescuers. Footage from the local administration showed people digging with shovels and bare hands in a desperate attempt to find survivors.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and stated that federal officials had been deployed to mitigate the disaster’s impact. “We stand in strong solidarity with the people and Government of Ethiopia as rescue efforts continue to find the missing and assist the displaced,” wrote African Union Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat on the social media platform X.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organisation and an Ethiopian national, expressed his condolences and announced that a WHO team had been dispatched to support immediate health needs. Workneh Gebeyehu, executive secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, urged vigilance and adherence to safety protocols to protect lives and prevent further tragedies.

Gofa Zone, a mountainous area in the South Ethiopia regional state, has been severely impacted by seasonal rains between April and May, causing flooding, damaging infrastructure, and displacing over a thousand people, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

The scale of the tragedy is immense, with many victims being rescue workers who perished while searching for survivors from the first landslide.

As the community continues to dig through the red soil in search of loved ones, the nation mourns and rallies together, showcasing resilience and solidarity in the face of immense grief.