▲ Desperate search for survivors of an avalanche in the Ethiopian district of Geze-Gofa.Photo Afp/Government of Gofa

AP and Reuters

The newspaper La Jornada
Wednesday, July 24, 2024, p. 27

Addis Ababa. At least 229 people have been killed by landslides in a remote area of ​​Ethiopia hit by heavy rains, many of them while trying to rescue survivors of an earlier landslide, authorities said yesterday.

Among the victims of the tragedy in the southern Kencho Shacha Gozdi district were children and pregnant women, said Dagmawi Ayele, a local official.

Most of the dead were buried in mud on Monday morning as rescuers searched for survivors of another quake the day before in the rugged terrain.

Images shared by the local administration showed people removing bodies with shovels and their hands.

At least five people were pulled out of the mud alive, Ayele said.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said he was deeply sad for the tragedy.

The death toll is expected to rise as rescue efforts continue.

Landslides are common during Ethiopia’s rainy season, which began in July and is expected to last until mid-September.

The head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who is of Ethiopian origin, said his thoughts were with all the affected families and that a team from the United Nations agency had been sent to support immediate health needs.