The death toll from the landslides in south-western Ethiopia on Sunday and Monday has risen to 257 and could potentially reach 500, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Heavy rains in the mountainous Gofa zone triggered a landslide on Sunday night, followed by another on Monday morning, trapping rescuers responding to the initial disaster.
On Tuesday, Ethiopia’s national disaster risk management commission reported a death toll of 229.
OCHA’s update on Thursday noted that at least 125 people have been displaced and 12 injured. Additionally, more than 15,000 people need immediate evacuation due to the threat of further landslides.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with images posted by Gofa authorities on Facebook showing people digging through the mud with their bare hands.
