Thousands of people have been displaced after a week of heavy rain triggered landslides and flash floods in Southern Ethiopia
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/landslides-in-ethiopia-031426-02-416d628c4794444aa89b1ab7afb26780.jpg "At least 80 killed by huge landslides as desperate search efforts continue")
Credit: South Ethiopia Regional State Office Of The President/Facebook
NEED TO KNOW
- At least 80 people are dead and 125 remain missing after heavy rain triggered landslides in the Gamo Zone of Southern Ethiopia
- “May God put the souls of those who died in the accident in heaven,” said Tilahun Kebede, president of the South Ethiopia Regional State
- The Gamo Zone director of disaster response, Mesfin Manuqa, said that one person has been pulled out of the mud alive amid rescue operations
At least 80 people are dead an estimated 125 remain missing following devastating landslides in Southern Ethiopia.
After a week of heavy rains triggered landslides in the Gamo Zone, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) House of Representatives has declared three days of national mourning in honor of the deceased.
Tilahun Kebede, president of the South Ethiopia Regional State, expressed "deep condolences" for the victims in a statement shared on Facebook on Tuesday, March 10. “May God put the souls of those who died in the accident in heaven. I sincerely wish that God gives comfort to all their families and friends," he wrote.
“I would like to urge the zone administration to continue its support to the affected people and the regional government will provide all the necessary support,” Kebede continued. “Since it is the rainy season and accidents like this can happen again, I call on the communities living in Degama and Nada vulnerable areas to take necessary precautions."
Credit: South Ethiopia Regional State Office Of The President/Facebook
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In an update on Friday, March 13, officials confirmed that at least 80 people died in the landslide accident in Laka Kebele of Gacho Baba Woreda and that “the search for the remaining people is still going on.”
“It has been decided that the Ethiopian national flag will be hoisted in all areas, Ethiopian ships, embassies and consulate offices,” the office of the president shared following the tragic incident. “The parliament has expressed its deep condolences for the accident.”
The Gacho Baba District communication chief, Abebe Agena, said that most victims were found buried in the mud, according to the Associated Press.
While approximately 125 individuals remain missing, per the outlet, the Gamo Zone director of disaster response, Mesfin Manuqa, announced that one person has been pulled out of the mud alive amid rescue operations.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission said that around 3,461 people have been displaced as a result of the landslides and “are facing a severe humanitarian crisis, as well as extensive damage to property, including completely destroyed houses and fields.”
In addition to making "urgent and coordinated efforts to ensure that the displaced receive essential supplies,” ISEMCO Chief Commissioner Berhanu Adelo has assured the public that the organization will continue to “intensify its monitoring and provide detailed solutions to the relevant parties based on its findings.”