According to local officials, at least 50 people have died in landslides in southern Ethiopia. The incidents occurred on Sunday night and Monday morning after heavy rains hit the remote mountainous area of the Gofa zone. There is an ongoing search for survivors, with concerns that the number of deaths might increase.
Hunt for Survivors
Video footage shows many people gathered around, some digging into the soil, desperately trying to save those trapped underground. A part of a hill gave way, leaving behind a large patch of red earth.
Casualties and Community Impact
Among those who lost their lives were women, children as well as police officers, said Meskir Mitku, who is the General administrator for the Gofa zone.“Last night, we had heavy rain, and there was a landslide that caused death. The regionally representative government spokesperson added, “Another landslide happened this morning around 10:00 am [07:00 GMT] when people gathered to help victims.”
Regional Context and Previous Incidents
Located about 320km (199 miles) southwest of Addis Ababa, the capital city of Gofa is one of the South Ethiopia regional states. According to the UN Office for Coordination Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), this place has seen increased rainfall, which has led to flooding over recent months. This region has been known for experiencing such tragedies before; floods alongside landslides left no less than fifty dead across southern parts during May 2016 alone.
Climate Change Future Risks
Flooding results from multiple causes, but climate change heightens these risks by increasing the frequency of extreme rainfall. Global temperatures have already risen approximately 1.2C since industrialization began, and without substantial worldwide emissions cuts, this figure will keep growing, thereby making extreme events more probable.
Government International Response
Ethiopian authorities and aid agencies from abroad are coordinating immediate relief efforts. The immediate priority should be to sustain search-and-rescue work and provide medical aid for survivors. We must also ensure that those who lost their homes receive temporary shelter and assistance until they fully recover.
The landslides in southern Ethiopia reflect how climate change impacts the most vulnerable areas. As recovery operations continue and people try to rebuild their lives, long-term plans that account for this phenomenon will also need to be put in place so that we can prevent future disasters.
