At least 80 individuals have lost their lives in tragic landslides in Ethiopia, prompting a three-day period of mourning as rescue teams work to retrieve bodies. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission reported that heavy rainfall triggered landslides in the Gamo Zone area, resulting in numerous casualties and displacing 3,461 people. The Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives, Tagesse Chafo, announced the commencement of the mourning period on Saturday.
Numerous individuals are still unaccounted for following the disaster on Tuesday, complicating search and recovery operations that have been hindered by ongoing heavy rainfall. The Ethiopian government, in collaboration with regional authorities, has mobilized resources to address the situation, with donations pouring in from private citizens and businesses to support relief efforts.
The governor of the South Ethiopia Regional state extended heartfelt condolences to the impacted families, acknowledging the devastation caused by the landslides and floods in the Gamo Zone due to the relentless heavy rains. Across East Africa, severe rainfall has caused havoc, with neighboring Kenya reporting a death toll of 62 from flash floods on Saturday.
With the region anticipating further rainfall during the rainy season, governments are advising residents to exercise caution. The IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre recently predicted a 45% likelihood of above-average rainfall in countries such as Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Northern Somalia, and Djibouti during the March-April-May rainy season.