ADDIS ABABA: Local authorities said that a landslide in a rural area of southern Ethiopia on Monday claimed the lives of as many as 55 people, but they cautioned that the number could grow.
According to a statement from the Gofa zone Communications Affairs Department, “more than 55 bodies have been found from the landslide.” Local leader Dagmawi Zerihun was quoted as saying that “the death toll could yet increase.”
According to Dagmawi, the landslide happened in the mountainous region of South Ethiopia regional state at around 10:00 am (0700 GMT) as a result of intense rains.
He stated that among the dead were women and children, and that the hunt for survivors was “continuing vigorously”.
The images showed individuals searching for survivors in the soil with just their bare hands.
Gofa Zone is situated north of Maze National Park and is about 450 kilometers (270 miles) from Addis Ababa, the capital. A 10-hour trip will get you there.
The UN’s humanitarian response agency OCHA reports that the South Ethiopia regional state has been severely damaged by the brief seasonal rains that occurred between April and early May, resulting in flooding and widespread displacement.
