Tragedy in Ethiopia: 229 Dead in Devastating Mudslides, PM Calls it a 'Terrible Loss'

In Summary

• Heavy rains in a remote part of Ethiopia triggered mudslides that killed at least 229 people, including many rescuers, in the Kencho Shacha Gozdi district.
• The death toll rose sharply from 55 to 229, with search operations ongoing; five people have been rescued alive.
• Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, and a federal disaster prevention task force has been deployed for rescue efforts.

Addis Ababa- Mudslides caused by heavy rains in a remote region of Ethiopia have resulted in the deaths of at least 229 people, including many who attempted to rescue survivors, local authorities reported on Tuesday. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed described the event as a "terrible loss."

The victims, including young children and pregnant women, were primarily from the Kencho Shacha Gozdi district in southern Ethiopia, according to local administrator Dagmawi Ayele. At least five individuals have been rescued alive.

Initially, the death toll was reported as 55 late Monday, but it increased dramatically as search efforts continued, stated Kassahun Abayneh, head of the communications office in Gofa Zone, where the mudslides occurred.

Ethiopia's ruling party expressed sorrow over the disaster, and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, in a Facebook statement, conveyed his deep sadness. A federal disaster prevention task force has been dispatched to aid in the search and rescue operations, as per Abiy's statement.

The number of missing persons remains unclear. Many victims were buried on Monday while rescue workers scoured the steep terrain for survivors of a previous day's mudslide. Markos Melese, director of the disaster response agency in Gofa Zone, noted that many rescuers are still missing.

"There are children clinging to the corpses of their family members, having lost their entire family," he said.

As rescuers dug through the thick mud with shovels, some women wailed in grief. Landslides are common during Ethiopia's rainy season, which began in July and is expected to last until mid-September.

Deadly mudslides frequently occur in the broader East African region, from Uganda's mountainous east to central Kenya's highlands. In April, at least 45 people died in Kenya's Rift Valley due to flash floods and a landslide that destroyed houses and severed a major road.