Floods, Landslides in Southern Ethiopia Kill 64, Dozens Missing

Floods, Landslides in Southern Ethiopia Kill 64, Dozens Missing
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Heavy rains in southern Ethiopia have triggered devastating floods and landslides in densely populated mountainous areas, resulting in the deaths of 64 people, with dozens more reported missing.

The Gamo Zone police reported that 128 individuals are currently unaccounted for following the recent disasters, while rescue teams have recovered 64 bodies so far.

Mesfin Manuka, the disaster management official for Gamo, said the landslides mainly affected three southern districts: Gacho Baba, Kamba, and Bonke. Rescue operations have so far succeeded in saving one person found alive beneath the mud and debris.

Gamo is a green, hilly region that has experienced unusually heavy rainfall in recent days, causing widespread flooding.

Floods and mudslides are common in Ethiopia during the rainy season. A deadly landslide in July 2024 in southern Ethiopia killed 229 people, underscoring the ongoing risk posed by seasonal heavy rains to local communities.