July 28 – The death toll from devastating landslides in southern Ethiopia has risen to more than 250, with the United Nations warning that the number could potentially reach 500, according to local authorities. The landslides struck the Gofa Zone on Sunday and Monday, marking the deadliest such event ever recorded in Ethiopia, Africa’s second-most populous country.
The UN’s humanitarian agency, OCHA, reported that thousands of people were affected, with many at high risk of further landslides. “These people need to be evacuated to safe zones immediately,” OCHA stated, highlighting the urgent need to protect vulnerable groups, including at least 1,320 children under the age of five and 5,293 pregnant and lactating women.
The Ethiopian government is in the final stages of planning an evacuation to relocate affected individuals to safer areas. Meanwhile, local residents and volunteers have been tirelessly digging through the mud in search of survivors. Photos from Kencho Shacha Gozdi showed emotional scenes as residents embraced after a day of intense search and rescue efforts.
Ethiopia is prone to landslides during the rainy season, as noted by geological surveys. In recent months, heavy rains have triggered floods in various parts of the country, including the southern region, displacing thousands. Last month, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that at least 43 people had died due to floods and landslides in the previous year.