Landslides in the Gofa zone of southern Ethiopia have claimed the lives of over 220 people with many more still missing. This is the deadliest landslide event recorded in Ethiopia’s history.
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The series of landslides occurred over two days, Sunday evening and Monday morning following heavy rains that lashed the remote and mountainous Gofa zone.
The first landslide took place on Sunday evening in the Kencho-Shacha locality. It resulted in the immediate burial of several homes and residents.
As rescuers, including police officers, teachers and local residents gathered on Monday morning to search for survivors of the initial landslide, a second, more massive landslide struck.
At least 229 people have been confirmed dead. This includes 148 men and 81 women, as reported by the Gofa Zone Communication Affairs Department. Ten people were rescued alive and are currently receiving medical treatment.
The condition of these survivors remains critical and further casualties are feared. Many of those who perished were attempting to assist others trapped by the landslide.
This includes local officials, teachers, health professionals and agricultural workers who rushed to the site for rescue operations.
The first landslide was triggered by continuous heavy rain causing a waterlogged hillside to collapse onto several houses in the village.
Entire families were buried as mud and debris rapidly descended the slope catching residents off guard.
Approximately an hour after the first landslide, a second, more devastating landslide occurred. Many people from neighboring villages including local officials, teachers, health professionals and farmers rushed to assist in rescue efforts.
Unfortunately, they became victims themselves as the unstable land gave way beneath them. This second landslide increased the death toll.
Among the deceased are men, women, pregnant women, children, local officials, teachers, health workers and agricultural experts.
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The local administrative leader was also killed in the second landslide while attempting to coordinate rescue efforts.
Five individuals were rescued from the debris and are receiving medical treatment. The number of injured is still being assessed with hospitals and clinics in the region providing emergency care.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed expressed his condolences and announced that the Federal Disaster Prevention Task Force has been deployed to the area to assist with rescue and recovery operations.
The government is coordinating with local authorities and international organizations to manage the situation and provide aid to those affected.
Alemayehu Bawdi, Southern Regional State representative confirmed the death toll and addressed that search and rescue efforts are ongoing.
Local officials are working to support the affected communities, offering shelter, food and medical assistance.
The African Union Commission chief Moussa Faki Mahamat expressed solidarity with Ethiopia. Humanitarian organizations including the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) are involved in providing relief and assessing the needs of the displaced populations.
The southern region of Ethiopia has a history of landslides with at least 32 people killed in similar incidents in 2018. In 2016, a landslide in Wolaita, another part of southern Ethiopia which claimed 41 lives.
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