Death toll from Ethiopia landslides could rise to 500, UN says

[July 25, 2024]   NAIROBI (Reuters) -The death toll from landslides in Ethiopia earlier this week has risen to 257, and is expected to rise to 500, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on Thursday.

On Tuesday, Ethiopia's National Disaster Risk Management Commission had put the death toll at 229.

Residents dig to recover the dead bodies of victims of the landslide following heavy rains that buried people in Gofa zone, Southern Ethiopia July 23, 2024. Gofa Zone Government Communication Affairs Department/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

Following heavy rain a landslide buried people in Gofa zone in Southern Ethiopia regional state on Sunday night, then a second one engulfed others who had gathered to help on Monday morning.

(Reporting by George Obulutsa and Bhargav AcharyaEditing by Bate Felix)

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