Death Toll Rises to 64 as Landslides, Floods Devastate Southern Ethiopia

At least 64 people have been confirmed dead while dozens remain missing after devastating landslides and floods struck the Gamo Zone in southern Ethiopia, authorities said on Thursday.

The South Ethiopia Regional State Police Commission said the number of people reported missing has climbed to 128, with rescue teams continuing search operations in affected communities.

“The number of people missing due to the recent flood in Gamo Zone has reached 128, and according to the latest information, 64 bodies have been found,” the police commission said in a statement.

Officials said most of the victims were discovered buried in thick mud after landslides swept through villages following days of heavy rainfall.

The disaster comes amid widespread flooding across East Africa, where intense rains have caused significant damage in several countries. In neighbouring Kenya, dozens of people were also reported killed after torrential rains hit the capital, Nairobi, and surrounding areas.

Mudslides and flooding are common in parts of Ethiopia during the rainy season, particularly in mountainous regions vulnerable to landslides. In July 2024, more than 250 people died in a major mudslide in southern Ethiopia following prolonged rainfall.

The communication chief of the Gacho Baba District, Abebe Agena, said most of the victims in the latest disaster were recovered from beneath mud and debris, while the number of households affected is yet to be confirmed.

Meanwhile, Mesfin Manuqa, Director of Disaster Response in the Gamo Zone, said rescue teams managed to pull at least one survivor alive from the mud during ongoing recovery efforts.

Reacting to the tragedy, the President of the South Ethiopia Regional State, Tilahun Kebede, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and urged residents in vulnerable communities to move to safer locations.

“Given that it is the rainy season and these types of disasters could happen again, I am calling on communities living in the highlands and flood-prone areas to take the necessary precautions,” Kebede said.

Emergency teams continue to search for survivors and assess the scale of the destruction as heavy rains persist across the region.