Search teams are continuing their efforts to dig through the aftermath of deadly mudslides in southern Ethiopia, with the death toll now standing at 257, as reported by the U.N. humanitarian office. The tragic events were triggered by heavy rain that caused devastating slides on Sunday and Monday in a remote area of the country.
The U.N. humanitarian office, also known as OCHA, issued an update on Thursday indicating that the death toll could potentially reach as high as 500, based on information from local officials. The situation is dire, with more than 15,000 affected individuals in need of evacuation from the affected region.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia is scheduled to visit the remote area on Friday to assess the situation firsthand. The recent mudslides have been a result of the intense rainfall experienced in the area over the past few days. Prime Minister Abiy expressed his deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives earlier in the week.
Heart-wrenching photos from the scene depict residents looking on as the bodies of mudslide victims are being unearthed one by one from the muddy terrain. Rescue workers are tirelessly using hand shovels to sift through the mud in search of any survivors.
The Gofa Zone of Kencho Shacha Gozdi district bore the brunt of the mudslides on Monday, with many individuals tragically buried under the debris. The treacherous terrain has made the search and rescue operations challenging for the teams on the ground.
Mudslides are a common occurrence during Ethiopia's rainy season, which typically spans from July to mid-September. The region is no stranger to such natural disasters, with deadly mudslides also frequently impacting other parts of East Africa, from Uganda's mountainous east to central Kenya's highlands.
In a similar incident in April, Kenya's Rift Valley region witnessed the loss of at least 45 lives due to flash floods and landslides that destroyed homes and disrupted vital infrastructure. The devastating impact of these natural disasters serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability faced by communities in the face of extreme weather events.
