Deadly Landslide In Southern Ethiopia Results In At Least 13 Deaths

At least 13 people have died in a landslide in the Wolaita district of southern Ethiopia caused by heavy rains, and more deaths are likely, a local official said on Monday.

More than 300 people have been evacuated from the Kindo Didaye district, according to Wolaita zone head administrator Samuel Fola, and the exact number of persons who are still missing is unknown.

Fola declared, “Children are among the dead.” “As a precaution and in preparation for what is likely to be another significant landslide, we have now evacuated over 300 people.”

The regional authority reported that there was a mad dash for life in the Wolaita area.

Compared to a landslide that killed over 200 people in a different part of southern Ethiopia last month, the one that happened on Monday looked to be less lethal.

Ethiopia’s rainy season, which began in July and is predicted to extend until mid-September, is known for its frequent landslides.

Such incidents have been common in Wolaita’s hilly areas because of their lack of infrastructure.

In 2016, a fatal mudslide caused by heavy rains resulted in over 41 deaths and hundreds of displaced people in the same location.