The scene of a landslide in Gofa, southern Ethiopia. (Archive Photo: THX/VNA)
Earlier, on March 13, officials in the South Ethiopia Regional State confirmed 70 fatalities in landslides that struck the Gamo zone following days of torrential rain. However, in an update on March 15 (local time), local government officials stated the number of victims had increased sharply as rescue teams continued search and recovery operations.
Rescue crews and local authorities are urgently providing aid to residents in affected areas while assessing the extent of the damage in the mountainous regions, which are prone to landslides during the rainy season.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visited the disaster-stricken area on March 14 to meet with local residents and offer his condolences to the grieving families. Posting on the social media platform X, he committed that the government would support affected communities throughout the emergency response process.
Floods and landslides are common during the rainy season across many parts of Ethiopia, particularly in the highlands characterized by steep terrain and unstable soil.