Ethiopia — The death toll from a landslide in southern Ethiopia has risen to at least 146, a local official said Tuesday, warning that the number could rise.
The landslide occurred around 10:00 am (0700 GMT) on Monday following heavy rains in a mountainous area of South Ethiopia regional state. The last toll given was 55.
“The number of dead from the sudden landslide that happened in Geze-Gofa district of Gofa zone has passed 146,” a statement from the Gofa zone Communications Affairs Department said, quoting local official Habtamu Fetena.
The landslide has killed 96 men and 50 ladies in Southern Ethiopia, Gofa zone, Geze Gofa Woreda Keche Shacha Gozidi Kebele.
It’s a real tragedy to lose 146 people from one Kebele😭
The incident happened yesterday 07 22/2024
My condolences to the Gofa people and their families😭 pic.twitter.com/nV3cYywlUo— Thuok Olock (@Thuokolock) July 23, 2024
Habtamu said the bodies of 96 men and 50 women had been found, adding that the search was “continuing vigorously” and warning that the number of dead could increase.
Images shared on Facebook by the state-affiliated media outlet Fana Broadcasting Corporate on Monday showed hundreds of people near a devastating scene of tumbled red soil.
The photographs showed people using their bare hands to dig through the dirt in search of survivors.
Heart breaking news😭😭
It has been announced that the death toll has reached more than 55 due to a sudden landslide accident in Gofa Zone, Geze Gofa District and the search for bodies has been intensified.
😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/6q6Tgq09X7— Yohannes Abrham / 𝕁𝕠𝕙𝕟 / (@John81961135) July 23, 2024
Gofa zone is roughly 450 kilometres (270 miles) from the capital Addis Ababa, a drive of about 10 hours, and located north of the Maze National Park.
The South Ethiopia regional state has been battered by the short seasonal rains between April and early May that have caused flooding and mass displacement, according to the UN’s humanitarian response agency OCHA.
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Source: AFP
Picture: Pixabay
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