Authorities have mentioned most of those that died had been discovered buried in mud.
Revealed On 12 Mar 2026
The loss of life toll from landslides and flooding within the Gamo Zone of southern Ethiopia has risen to at the very least 64, with dozens extra folks lacking, police have mentioned.
“The variety of folks lacking as a result of latest flood in Gamo zone has reached 128, and in keeping with the most recent info, 64 our bodies have been discovered,” mentioned the South Ethiopia Regional State Police Fee in a press release on Fb on Thursday.
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The Gacho Baba district communication chief, Abebe Agena, mentioned most of those that died had been discovered buried in mud. It isn’t but clear what number of households had been affected.
Gamo Zone director of catastrophe response Mesfin Manuqa mentioned that one particular person was pulled out of mud alive throughout rescue operations.
Tilahun Kebede, president of the South Ethiopia Regional State, expressed his sorrow over the catastrophe and urged residents to maneuver to larger floor as rains proceed.
“Given that it’s the wet season and a lot of these disasters may occur once more, I’m calling on communities residing within the highlands and flood-prone areas to take the mandatory precautions,” he mentioned.
Flooding brought on by heavy rains has led to the deaths, with most of East Africa seeing heavy flooding in latest days.
Dozens had been killed in neighbouring Kenya after torrential rain hit the capital, Nairobi, and different areas on Friday.
Mudslides and floods brought on by heavy rainfall are frequent in Ethiopia, particularly throughout the wet season.
In July 2024, a lethal mudslide brought on by heavy rain killed greater than 250 folks in southern Ethiopia.
A number of research have tracked the rising frequency of utmost moist and dry intervals in East Africa within the final 20 years.
Scientists have lengthy warned that human-driven local weather change is rising the chance, size and severity of extreme climate occasions akin to torrential downpours.
