Southern Ethiopia – At least 50 people have died and 125 remain missing after massive landslides struck three districts in the Gamo Zone of southern Ethiopia following days of relentless rainfall, local authorities reported.

The disaster hit Gacho Baba, Kamba, and Bonke districts after a week of heavy downpours weakened hillsides, sending enormous volumes of earth cascading onto residential areas. Families have been frantically searching for relatives feared trapped beneath mud and debris. Emergency teams were immediately deployed to assist with rescue operations, AP reports.

Mesfin Manuqa, Gamo Zone director of disaster response, confirmed that one person had been rescued alive from the debris. Rescue workers are navigating difficult terrain, often using basic tools to dig through thick mud layers, while assessing the full scale of destruction. Many victims were found buried inside their homes, according to Abebe Agena, communication chief of Gacho Baba District.

“Most of those killed were recovered from areas where entire structures were overwhelmed by the landslides,” Agena said. Officials stressed that the death toll could rise as search and rescue efforts continue.

South Ethiopia Regional State President Tilahun Kebede expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and urged residents in highland and flood-prone areas to relocate temporarily to safer ground. “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,” he said.

Seasonal rains frequently cause flooding and landslides in Ethiopia, especially in rural regions where homes are built on unstable slopes. Deforestation and poor drainage systems have worsened the impact of extreme weather events in recent years. The current catastrophe recalls a similar disaster in July 2024, when a mudslide killed 229 people in southern Ethiopia, prompting calls for stronger early warning systems and better land management.

Authorities continue search and rescue operations and caution that casualty figures may rise as more affected areas are reached.