REPORTS VARY80 killed as Ethiopian mourning declared after deadly landslide surge linked
Ethiopia has officially announced three days of national mourning following a catastrophic increase in the death toll from landslides that now claims at least eighty lives, with many more still missing. The disaster struck southern districts including Gamo Zone and affected areas after weeks of heavy rains triggered mudslides across East Africa's rainy season region.
Key Points
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1Heavy rainfall across East Africa triggered deadly landslide events on March 12-13 that have caused significant loss of life.
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2The death toll in Ethiopia has risen from at least 50 to over 80, with more than a hundred people still missing as rescue efforts continue.
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3Ethiopia's government declared three days of mourning following the tragedy which struck districts including Gamo Zone and Kamba District.
Developments
At least 80 people were killed by landslides triggered by heavy rainfall across southern Gamo Zone in the Ethiopian region of East Africa on Tuesday morning this week (March). The death toll is expected to rise as many more remain missing, with over 3,461 displaced and similar flash flood fatalities reported recently in neighboring Kenya.
Heavy rains triggered deadly landslides that killed at least 80 people and displaced over 3,461 others in Ethiopia's southern Gamo Zone on Tuesday morning three days of mourning have been declared there while neighboring Kenya has also suffered flash floods resulting in more than six deaths.
Ethiopia declared three days of mourning as landslide deaths reached 80 after heavy rains struck its southern Gamo Zone area on Tuesday. Search efforts are hampered by ongoing rain while officials report over 3,461 displaced persons and urge caution due to predicted above-average rainfall across the region this rainy season.
Heavy rains triggered landslides that killed at least 50 and left over 125 missing across three districts in Gamo Zone's south, where one survivor was rescued from mud while many victims were buried beneath it. Regional President Tilahun Kebede expressed sorrow for the disaster amid ongoing rainy season risks similar to a deadly July event two months prior that claimed nearly twice as many lives.