IN one of Africa’s most devastating landslide disasters, at least 229 people have lost their lives in southern Ethiopia, according to a government official on Tuesday. The tragedy, which occurred in the Gofa zone of Southern Ethiopia regional state, began on Sunday night and continued into Monday morning, with the death toll expected to rise further.
Markos Melese, head of the National Disaster Response agency in Gofa Zone, told Reuters, “I don’t know when it will stop. We are still recovering bodies. We are still digging.”
The catastrophe unfolded in two stages. The first landslide buried people on Sunday night following heavy rain. A second landslide then engulfed others who had gathered to help on Monday morning, dramatically increasing the number of casualties.
According to Reuters, footage shared by the local administration showed people desperately searching for survivors and recovering bodies using shovels and bare hands. Gofa district administrator Misikir Mitiku described the situation as “a very sad incident,” noting that “the death toll surged after the people who came to rescue also got trapped.”
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed expressed his deep sorrow for the terrible loss of life and stated that federal officials had been deployed to mitigate the impact of the disaster.
The tragedy has drawn international attention and offers of support. African Union chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat expressed solidarity with Ethiopia, while WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced that a WHO team had been dispatched to support immediate health needs.
As rescue efforts continue, this devastating event serves as a stark reminder of the increasing impacts of climate change in the region, with calls for increased vigilance and adherence to safety protocols to prevent future tragedies.
