On Monday, a devastating landslide struck a village in southwestern Ethiopia, resulting in the loss of over 150 lives. The tragic event occurred following days of heavy rain in the region, causing multiple houses to be flattened by the force of the landslide.
The initial landslide occurred between 8:30 and 9 a.m. in the Geze district, catching the residents by surprise. In a heart-wrenching turn of events, as nearly 300 individuals from neighboring villages rushed to assist and dig out those buried under the mud, a second landslide occurred about an hour later, claiming the lives of many volunteers and exacerbating the already dire situation.
Among the victims were entire families, teachers, health care workers, and even the local administrative leader who had responded to the crisis. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue efforts continue, with just a few survivors rescued as of Tuesday afternoon.
The region affected by the landslides has been experiencing extreme weather patterns attributed to climate change. The area’s vulnerability to such disasters has been exacerbated by heavy rainfall and saturated land, making rescue operations challenging.
Due to the remote location of the devastated village, heavy machinery is unable to access the area, forcing villagers and rescue workers to rely on manual labor to search for survivors and victims buried under the mud.
Experts warn that the region is at increased risk of such calamities, with previous disasters prompting some villages to be relocated. However, landslides are now occurring in unexpected areas, highlighting the urgent need for proactive measures to mitigate the impact of natural disasters in the region.
