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

 

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) said on Thursday that the number of fatalities from landslides that occurred in Ethiopia earlier this week has increased to 257 and is predicted to nearly quadruple.

 

In the southern Ethiopian Gofa Zone, heavy rains caused a landslide on Sunday night that buried individuals, and another one on Monday that enveloped those doing rescue operations.

 

"The death toll is expected to rise to up to 500 people as per information received from local authorities," UNOCHA stated in its report.

Ethiopia's National Disaster Risk Management Commission reported 229 fatalities on Tuesday.

 

Dagmawi Ayele, an administrator for the Gofa Zone said rescuers had so far recovered 226 bodies, which had been buried after a funeral ceremony, and were searching for 20 more.

 

"It is too dangerous to approach to the site," he said, adding that the rains were continuing on Thursday.