Death Toll from Landslides in Southern Ethiopia Rises to 125

The death toll from devastating landslides in southern Ethiopia has risen to 125, according to officials from the regional government of the South Ethiopia Regional State. The disaster occurred last week after heavy rainfall triggered a series of landslides across several areas of the Gamo Zone.

Authorities had previously confirmed on Thursday that at least 70 people had died, but the number increased significantly as rescue teams continued search and recovery operations in the affected communities.

In a statement published on its official account on Facebook, the regional government’s communications office said that the catastrophe has also forced more than 11,000 residents to flee their homes.

According to a report by Reuters, the landslides were caused by persistent heavy rains that destabilized hillsides and buried homes and farmland, leaving widespread destruction in their wake.

Local authorities and emergency responders are continuing relief efforts while assessing the full scale of the damage, as displaced families seek shelter and humanitarian assistance in nearby areas.