A catastrophic landslide in southern Ethiopia’s Gofa region has claimed at least 146 lives, with local authorities warning that the death toll is likely to rise further. The disaster struck on Monday, July 22, 2024, around 10:00 am local time, following heavy rainfall in the mountainous area located approximately 450 kilometers from the capital, Addis Ababa.Habtamu Fetena, public relations officer for the Gofa administrative zone, reported that ‘146 bodies have been found, including 96 men and 50 women, and search efforts are continuing intensively’. The victims include children, pregnant women, and even members of the rescue teams who were buried in mud during search operations.Dagmawi Ayele, a local official, described heart-wrenching scenes: ‘During the rescue and recovery operations, we saw children hugging their dead bodies, having lost their parents, siblings, and entire families’. At least five people have been rescued alive from the mud, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the tragedy.The disaster highlights the vulnerability of the region to climate-related catastrophes. Landslides are common in southern Ethiopia during the rainy season, which runs from June to August. The area has been experiencing increased flooding, particularly during the ‘small’ rainy season in April and May, pointing to the growing impact of climate change on extreme weather events.Rescue efforts are ongoing but face significant challenges due to the remote and isolated nature of the affected area. Markos Melese, head of the National Emergency Management Agency in the area, stated, ‘The search continues and there are still bodies that have not been recovered. The area is very challenging’.As the community grapples with this tragedy, Gofa Governor Dagmawi Ayele emphasized the need for better disaster preparedness, stating that ‘the community needs to be better prepared to cope with such disasters’. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for improved infrastructure and disaster management strategies in vulnerable regions.
Key points
- A landslide in southern Ethiopia’s Gofa region has killed at least 146 people, with the death toll expected to rise.
- The disaster occurred on July 22, 2024, following heavy rainfall in a mountainous area 450 km from Addis Ababa.
- Rescue efforts are ongoing but face challenges due to the remote location and difficult terrain.
- The incident highlights the region’s vulnerability to climate-related disasters during the rainy season.
Contradictions👾While most sources report 146 deaths, one source cites a higher figure of 157 fatalities, indicating some discrepancy in the reported death toll.
