Devastating Landslides in Ethiopia Claim Over 150 Lives

More than 150 people lost their lives on Monday in southwest Ethiopia when a landslide buried several houses of a village following heavy rains. Neighbors who rushed to help were caught off guard by a second landslide about an hour later. The first mudslide occurred in the Geze district between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m., as explained by Habtamu Fetena, head of disaster relief for the local government. Approximately 300 people from neighboring villages came to assist and began freeing those trapped under the mud with their bare hands. Without warning, a second mudslide struck the area about an hour later, killing many of the helpers who had no inkling that the ground beneath them would give way again. Fetena remarked, "They had no idea that the land they were standing on would soon devour them." Officials reported that the first landslide killed entire families as the mud swept down the hillside. Among the deceased from the second landslide were teachers, health personnel, and the local administrative head who had rushed to help. While most victims were men, Fetena emphasized that pregnant women and children were also among the dead. The death toll could rise further as more bodies are recovered from the mud. By Tuesday afternoon, rescue workers had only managed to save 10 people from the wreckage alive. Days of relentless heavy rain hindered rescue operations and saturated the soil, causing multiple landslides. The affected region is increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. According to the United Nations, East Africa has been experiencing more extreme weather conditions for years, ranging from prolonged droughts to intense storms. One-third of the countries most threatened by climate change are located in southern and eastern Africa. Heavy machinery cannot reach the area where the landslides occurred, forcing rescuers to search for survivors with their hands, hoes, and shovels. Images from the scene showed a gaping wound on the green hillside where the mud had slid down, and rescuers digging knee-deep in the mud for survivors. The region has experienced similar disasters in the past, as local administrator Dagmawi Ayele told Ethiopian broadcasting. Although some villages were relocated after previous calamities, landslides are now occurring in unexpected areas, he added.