At least 229 deaths due to landslide in Südaethiopien
Landslides caused by heavy rainfalls have reportedly killed at least 229 people in Ethiopia, according to authorities, including children and pregnant women. Many victims were reportedly buried in a landslide on Monday morning in the Kencho Shacha Gozdi district, while rescue teams were still searching for survivors of a Sunday landslide. Five people were reportedly rescued from the mud, according to the official Dagmawi Ayele. "There are children who are hugging corpses, having lost their entire family due to this disaster, including mother, father, brother and sister."
Fifty-five deaths were reported on Monday evening, but the number has since rapidly increased. The number of missing people was uncertain on Tuesday. The Ethiopian government expressed concern over the disaster in a statement. In a Facebook post, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed wrote that he was "deeply concerned about this tragic loss."
During the rainy season in Ethiopia, landslides are common. The rainy season began there in July and is expected to last at least until mid-September.
At least 229 individuals, including children and pregnant women, have sadly lost their lives due to landslides in Ethiopia as of now. Currently, rescue teams are still actively searching for survivors in Southern Ethiopia, particularly in the areas affected by the landslides on Sunday and Monday. Despite the efforts, only five individuals have been successfully rescued from the mud so far.
