229 people Killed in Landslides in Southern Ethiopia.

Ethiopia:

In southern Ethiopia, at least 229 people have died following two devastating landslides triggered by heavy rains. The first landslide occurred in the remote Gofa Zone on Monday, and a second landslide hit those who had gathered to assist the affected community. The disaster struck the Kencho-Shacha locality in Gofa Zone, with local officials reporting 148 men and 81 women confirmed dead.

Alemayehu Bawdi, a representative from the Southern Regional State, confirmed the fatalities and stated that search and rescue operations are underway. Five survivors have been rescued and are receiving medical treatment, according to the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC).

Local administrator Dagemawi Ayele reported that many of the victims were buried while attempting to help residents affected by the initial landslide. Among those who perished were community leaders, including the locality’s administrator, teachers, health workers, and agricultural professionals.

Gofa Zone is part of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region (SNNPR), located approximately 320 kilometers southwest of Addis Ababa. Kemal Hashi Mohamoud, a parliamentarian, stated that the second landslide occurred shortly after the first, prompting immediate efforts to provide shelter and food to the affected population.

Images from the scene, shared by the state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate, show hundreds of people using their bare hands to search for survivors amid the rubble. The area has been hit hard by seasonal rains from April to May, leading to flooding and displacement, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The UN also reported that recent floods affected over 19,000 people and displaced more than a thousand.

The southern region, which has faced previous landslides, experienced a similar disaster in 2018 that resulted in 32 deaths. Concurrently, other parts of Ethiopia are grappling with severe drought, affecting food security and prompting communities to seek alternative food production methods. The UN reports that millions of Ethiopians are facing malnutrition due to these climate-related challenges.