Tragic Mudslides Claim Lives in Southern Ethiopia

At least 55 people, including young children and pregnant women, have died in mudslides in southern Ethiopia's Kencho Shacha Gozdi district following heavy rainfall. Rescue workers are still searching for survivors in the steep terrain, with the death toll expected to rise. Landslides are frequent during Ethiopia's rainy season.

At least 55 people have been killed in devastating mudslides in the Kencho Shacha Gozdi district of southern Ethiopia, which has been deluged by heavy rainfall, a local official reports.

Dagmawi Ayele, a local administrator, confirmed that young children and pregnant women were among the victims, with rescue workers continuing to scour the steep terrain for survivors.

On Monday morning, most victims were buried in a fresh mudslide while efforts were underway to find survivors from a previous mudslide. Despite the challenging conditions, five people have been pulled alive from the mud.

“There are children who are hugging corpses, having lost their entire family, including mother, father, brother, and sister due to the accident,” Ayele said, noting that the death toll is expected to rise as rescue operations proceed.

Landslides frequently occur during Ethiopia's rainy season, which began in July and is expected to continue until mid-September.