Ethiopia Landslides: Over 100 Killed After Floods Sweep Gamo State

At least 102 people have died after floods and landslides caused by several days of heavy rain hit villages in the Gamo Region of Ethiopia.
The disaster hit three districts, Gacho Baba, Kamba and Bonke, after heavy rains that did not stop weakened the hills and caused huge mudslides.
Authorities say the death toll rose sharply from earlier reports of about 30 deaths as rescue teams recovered more bodies.
Officials in Ethiopia’s Southern Province warn that the danger is not over as the rainy season continues, raising fears of more floods and landslides.

More than 100 people have died after massive floods and landslides caused by several days of heavy rain hit villages in the Southern Gamo Region of Ethiopia.

Villagers join rescue operations following landslides in Ethiopia. Photo: EBC.
Source: UGC

Local authorities said the death toll had risen to at least 102 as rescue teams continued to retrieve bodies from thick mud and debris in several affected districts.

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The disaster, which struck remote highland communities, has become one of the region’s worst weather-related events in recent years.

What are the areas most affected by landslides in southern Ethiopia?

Officials reported that landslides hit three districts, Gacho Baba, Kamba and Bonke, following days of heavy rain that filled the slopes and caused the hills to collapse.

According to a BBC report, an entire section of land collapsed, burying houses and trapping families under thick mud.

According to the communication office of Gamo Zone, the number of deaths has increased rapidly since the first reports of the epidemic emerged.

Initial figures suggested more than 30 deaths, but authorities later confirmed the number had risen significantly as more bodies were discovered during rescue efforts.

Regional police said many victims were found buried under layers of soil and debris after the mudslide swept through villages, while teams recovered several bodies from the affected areas.

The worst damage was reported at Mazo Doysa kebele in Gacho Babaworeda, where officials said several victims were found from the same area.

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Authorities indicated that several households were destroyed in the tragedy, while some families lost many people.

In a statement shared on social media, the Ethiopian Southern Regional Police Commission confirmed that several people are still missing following the floods.

“The number of people lost due to the recent floods in the Gamo area has reached 128, and according to the latest information, 64 bodies have been found,” the commission said.

How are the rescue operations in Ethiopia going?

Rescue teams working in mud-covered areas managed to pull one person alive from the rubble during the operation, providing a rare moment of hope as the destruction continued.

The town of Arba Minch and surrounding areas experienced continuous heavy rains for at least two days, causing rivers to overflow and slopes to weaken before the deadly landslides occurred.

Pictures shared by the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation showed residents gathered near the site of one of the landslides, with hillsides stripped of vegetation and people standing in the mud looking for survivors.

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Authorities have warned that the situation remains dangerous, as the rainy season continues and the risk of further flooding and landslides remains high.

Tilahun Kebede, the president of the Southern Ethiopia Regional State, expressed his sorrow over the deaths and urged residents in vulnerable areas to take precautions as heavy rains continue to fall.

“Considering that it is the rainy season and these types of disasters can happen again, I call on the communities living in the highlands and areas prone to flooding to take the necessary precautions,” Kebede said.

Is the East African region in danger?

The floods in southern Ethiopia are coming as a large part of East Africa is experiencing unusually heavy rains that have caused major floods in the region.

In Kenya, heavy rains have also caused death and destruction in several areas, including parts of the capital, Nairobi.

Mudslides and floods are a recurring threat in Ethiopia during the rainy season, especially in mountainous areas where steep slopes become unstable. The country has experienced similar disasters in the past, such as in July 2024, a landslide that occurred in the neighboring Geze Gofa area killed more than 229 people.