The death toll from landslides that struck southeastern Ethiopia on Sunday and Monday has risen to 257 with expectations it could escalate to around 500, according to the UN’s office for humanitarian affairs (OCHA).
Persistent heavy rains in Gofa's mountainous terrain resulted in a landslide on Sunday evening, followed by another on Monday morning which trapped survivors of the initial incident.
By Tuesday, the number of confirmed deaths was 229 as reported by Ethiopia’s national disaster risk management commission.
A total of at least 125 individuals have been displaced and there are currently 12 injuries recorded, with OCHA noting that over 15,000 people urgently need relocation due to the looming threat of additional landslides.
Rescue efforts continue as reported images shared by Gofa authorities depict locals diligently sifting through mud using their hands.
Tseganesh Obole, a survivor who lost her six children in one such landslide, expressed the harrowing nature of the event while standing with her remaining family. “I was engulfed by a landslide alongside many others, including my children," she shared amidst the backdrop of her grief-stricken loved ones.
Her brother Dawit managed to extract her from the mud but mournfully revealed that four siblings perished and are believed to be buried underneath it. Her husband is also missing in the chaos.
This tragedy represents one of Ethiopia's deadliest landslides, with Obole's family among the numerous affected. The country has previously been hit by devastating natural disasters due to its susceptibility to climate-related incidents.
Dawit, after his initial rescue attempts were unsuccessful, returned to assist in rescuing his sister. He relayed that upon re-entering the site for a second attempt, only two children remained alive among their siblings.
Gofa is situated within South Ethiopia's regional state and has recently been impacted by heavy seasonal rains from April to May, resulting in flooding, infrastructure damage, and displacement of over 1,000 individuals.
Ethiopia frequently grapples with the ramifications of climate-related calamities such as droughts and floods. A similar landslide event occurred in 2016 in Wolaita region that resulted in at least 41 fatalities after heavy rains, while significant downpours last November also led to numerous casualties and displacements.
Read next
Over 1 million people gather in Madrid for outdoor mass with Pope Leo
Over one million people gathered in Madrid for an open-air mass led by Pope Leo. During the service, the American pontiff highlighted the contradiction between Christian principles and far-right ideology, stating, “No one can kneel before the Lord and despise their brother.”
Crowds began forming hours before dawn on Sunday
Xi Jinping visits Pyongyang to strengthen China-North Korea relations
Xi Jinping has begun a two-day visit to North Korea, marking his first trip to the country in nearly seven years as he seeks to strengthen relations with the ally.
Footage from the Xinhua state news agency showed the Chinese leader and his wife, Peng Liyuan, arriving at Sunan international
Denmark's mullet championship celebrates the 'beautifully ugly' and divisive hairstyle
Copenhagen recently hosted the 2026 Mullet Championship, where more than 1,000 spectators gathered on an outdoor stage to celebrate the enduring hairstyle characterized by short hair in the front and length in the back.
Twelve participants competed in the event, which was organized by 37-year-old electrician Steffen Stiw Weber.