ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – The devastating twin landslides that struck southern Ethiopia on Monday have claimed at least 157 lives, with fears the toll could climb further, a regional official said on Tuesday.
The tragedy unfolded in Gofa zone, where an initial landslide buried residents. In a heart-wrenching turn of events, a second landslide struck on Monday morning, engulfing those who rushed to assist the victims, according to local authorities.
“Search operations are ongoing, but the terrain is very difficult, and there are bodies that haven’t been recovered yet,” Markos Melese, head of the National Disaster Response agency in Gofa Zone, told Reuters in a phone interview. “We’ve retrieved 157 bodies from two villages so far, and we believe the number will unfortunately increase.”
The initial report on Monday indicated a death toll of at least 50, with children and police officers confirmed among the casualties. Rescue efforts continue amidst the challenging landscape, with officials bracing for a potential rise in the grim tally.
