The landslide death toll in Ethiopia has escalated to 257 this week, with projections suggesting it may reach 500, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on Thursday.
Previously on Tuesday, the death count was reported at 229 by Ethiopia’s National Disaster Risk Management Commission. Intense rainfall triggered a landslide that buried individuals in the Gofa zone in Southern Ethiopia’s regional state on Sunday night, followed by another landslide on Monday morning that claimed additional lives, including those who came to aid.
Ongoing search efforts are being conducted in the region, reported Kassahun Abayneh, the communications office head in Gofa Zone, where the mudslides took place. The ruling party of Ethiopia expressed its grief over the calamity, and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed conveyed his deep sorrow for the tragic loss on Facebook.
The federal disaster prevention task force is actively involved in the search and rescue operations, as stated by Abiy. The exact number of missing persons remains uncertain.
Burials for many victims took place on Monday while rescue teams navigated the challenging terrain in search of survivors from a mudslide the day before. According to Markos Melese, the disaster response agency director in Gofa Zone, several rescuers are still missing.
Landslides are very common in Ethiopia during rainy season. The broader East African region, including Uganda’s mountainous east and central Kenya’s highlands, often experiences fatal mudslides. For instance, in April, flash floods and a landslide in Kenya’s Rift Valley region resulted in at least 45 fatalities and disrupted a major roadway.
