Death toll from landslides in Ethiopia has risen to 257, says United Nations office
Jul 26, 2024
Addis Ababa [Ethiopia], July 26: The number of deaths following several landslides in south-western Ethiopia has risen to at least 257, according to the United Nations.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) shared on the social media platform X on Thursday that they expect up to 500 fatalities. More than 15,000 people need to be evacuated as a result.
On Wednesday, Ethiopia's government had still been reporting 229 deaths. The search for survivors continues.
Four days since the first landslide on Sunday, rescue workers are in a race against time. They hope to find survivors but are mainly recovering bodies. Residents held mass burials in several villages in the region, according to a DPA reporter on the scene.
Affected family members in the village of Dale in the Gofa district were desperately digging for missing with their bare hands. Others attempted to locate missing relatives with the help of photos. (DPA)
Source: Qatar Tribune
