Some 15,000 people have been affected by the landslides in Ethiopia with hundreds having been killed – the death toll is expected to rise to as high as 500, according to officials
More than 250 people have been killed in Ethiopia after heavy rain triggered deadly mudslides.
At least 257 people died in the southern region of the African country on Sunday and Monday, according to the UN humanitarian office – better known as the OCHA. In its latest update, it said the death toll could rise to as much as 500 citing local officials.
“More than 15,000 affected people need to be evacuated,” from the area, OCHA said. The national assembly declared that there would be three days of national mourning, which would begin on Saturday.
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed earlier this week described himself as being “deeply saddened by this terrible loss.” Many victims were buried by the mudslide in the Gofa Zone of Kencho Shacha Gozdi districts on Monday.
Rescue workers searched the steep terrain for any survivors from mudslides that happened the previous day. Harrowing photos from the site of the disaster showed residents standing over the bodies of mudslide victims who were being pulled out from the mud-laden earth.
Harrowing photos showed several people digging around the site of the mudslides as several residents watched on. Another image showed a family laying two members of their family to rest close to the scene of the landslide.
Diggers were also seen using hand shovels to dig through the mud. Volunteers were also seen digging in the knee-high mud as they searched for more landslide victims.
Secretary-General of the UN Antonio Guterres took to X/Twitter where he stated aid was on its way to people in Ethiopia. He said on Thursday: “I’m deeply saddened by the loss of more than 200 lives in the south of Ethiopia following landslides triggered by heavy rains. UN agencies are dispatching food, nutrition, health and other critical supplies to help affected people.”
