Devastating Mudslides in Ethiopia: 229 Dead, Rescue Operations Ongoing

Mudslides caused by heavy rainfall in southern Ethiopia's Kencho Shacha Gozdi district have claimed 229 lives, including children and pregnant women. Search operations continue as thousands remain unaccounted for. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed expressed deep sorrow and deployed a federal disaster task force for ongoing rescue efforts.

Mudslides triggered by heavy rain in a remote part of Ethiopia have resulted in the deaths of at least 229 people, including many rescuers, local authorities said Tuesday, in what the prime minister termed a 'terrible loss.' Victims in the Kencho Shacha Gozdi district of southern Ethiopia included young children and pregnant women, according to Dagmawi Ayele, a local administrator. At least five people have been rescued alive.

The death tally has risen sharply from 55 reported late Monday. Search operations continue, stated Kassahun Abayneh, head of the communications office in Gofa Zone, where the mudslides occurred.

In a statement, Ethiopia's ruling party expressed sorrow over the disaster. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed shared a Facebook post, saying he was 'deeply saddened by this terrible loss.' The federal disaster prevention task force has been deployed to assist in search and rescue operations.

As of now, the number of unaccounted-for individuals remains uncertain.

Many victims were buried on Monday while rescue workers continued searching the steep terrain for survivors from another mudslide that happened the day before. Markos Melese, director of the disaster response agency in Gofa Zone, reported that many rescuers were still missing.

'There are children hugging corpses, having lost their entire family, including mother, father, brother, and sister,' he said.

Women could be heard wailing as rescuers tried to dig through the thick mud using shovels.

Landslides are frequent during Ethiopia's rainy season, which began in July and is expected to persist until mid-September.

Deadly mudslides often affect the broader East African region, from Uganda's mountainous east to central Kenya's highlands. In April, 45 people were killed in Kenya's Rift Valley region due to flash floods and a landslide.

(With inputs from agencies.)