The death toll from two landslides in southern Ethiopia has surpassed 100 people, with numbers expected to rise. The landslides, triggered by heavy rains in a remote region of Gofa zone, resulted in the burial of individuals who had gathered to assist with the aftermath of the initial landslide. The search for survivors is ongoing, with several bodies already recovered from the affected villages. The state of Gofa, located about 320km southwest of Addis Ababa, is part of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Region (SNNPR).
Local officials have noted that children and pregnant women were among the victims, with residents seen using their bare hands to dig through the earth in search of survivors. The devastating incident occurred amidst short seasonal rains that caused flooding and displacement in the area. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that floods impacted over 19,000 people, causing damage to livelihoods and infrastructure.
This latest tragedy comes as other parts of Ethiopia are grappling with severe drought, leading to food insecurity and malnutrition among millions of individuals. The government is working to provide assistance to the affected communities and is facing challenges related to climate-related disasters. The region has experienced landslides in the past, with a significant number of lives lost in similar incidents in 2018. The state-affiliated media outlet Fana Broadcasting Corporate shared images of the aftermath, illustrating the scale of destruction and the community’s efforts to recover.
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Photo credit www.aljazeera.com