Landslide in Southern Ethiopia Claims at Least 13 Lives, Forces Evacuation of Hundreds

A devastating landslide triggered by heavy rains in Wolaita, southern Ethiopia, has resulted in at least 13 fatalities, with fears that the death toll may rise, VOA reported yesterday.

Samuel Fola, the zone chief administrator, reported that over 300 residents have been evacuated from Kindo Didaye district due to the risk of further landslides. Tragically, children are among the deceased.

The regional government has launched a frantic rescue operation in the affected area. This incident follows a more catastrophic landslide last month in neighboring Gamo Gofa, where more than 200 lives were lost, and the United Nations Office for Human Rights warned that the toll could reach 500. Landslides are frequent during Ethiopia’s rainy season, which lasts from July to mid-September, particularly affecting the mountainous regions with inadequate infrastructure.