๐ผ๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ข๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐ข๐โ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐โ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ข๐๐ฃ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ .
The death toll from catastrophic landslides in southern Ethiopia has surpassed 250 and could reach up to 500, according to the UN, which cited local authorities. The landslides occurred in the Gofa Zone on Sunday and Monday, marking the deadliest such event ever recorded in Ethiopia, Africa’s second most populous country.
โThese people are at high risk of further landslides and need to be evacuated to safe zones immediately. Amongst these are at least 1,320 children under 5 years of age and 5,293 pregnant and lactating women,โ stated the UNโs humanitarian agency, OCHA. The agency also noted that the government is finalising an evacuation plan to address the crisis.
In the wake of the disaster, residents and volunteers have been tirelessly digging through the mud in search of survivors. Photographs from Kencho Shacha Gozdi, one of the affected areas, show locals embracing each other after a long day of excavation efforts.
Ethiopia is particularly vulnerable to landslides during the rainy season, according to geological surveys. In several regions, including the south, heavy rains have triggered floods that have displaced thousands of people in recent months, as reported by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Last month, the agency highlighted the ongoing risk in a report, noting that at least 43 people died from floods and landslides last year. With the rainy season continuing, the risk of additional landslides remains high, underscoring the urgent need for evacuation and relief efforts to prevent further tragedy.
