55 Dead in Ethiopia Landslides

At least 55 people were killed due to landslides triggered by heavy rainfall in the Gofa region of southern Ethiopia on Monday.

Local authorities confirmed the fatalities and ongoing rescue operations.

Dagmawi Zerihun, an official from the Gofa administrative area where the disaster occurred, stated in a regional government press release, "More than 55 bodies have been recovered after the landslides caused by heavy rains on Monday morning, and the death toll may rise."

The Gofa administrative area is located approximately 450 kilometers from Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, which is about a 10-hour drive away.

Earlier, Mesker Metiku, a senior administrator in the rural Wereda area of Geze Gofa, where the landslides occurred, mentioned that "the search for survivors and bodies is ongoing."

He added in a statement issued by the Gofa authorities that women and children were among the victims.

Photographs released by the Gofa regional authorities showed residents gathered at the base of a mountain, which had partially collapsed, with trees and grass tumbling down.

One image depicted a resident digging through a thick layer of red mud with a hand tool, highlighting the absence of emergency services on the scene.