Death toll in Ethiopian mudslides rises to 229
![](https://cdn.classfmonline.com/imagelib/thumbs/92276667.jpg)
At least 229 people have died in mudslides in southern Ethiopia's Gofa Zone, authorities said Tuesday.
The mudslides in the area followed heavy rains in the region. The first slide happened late Sunday. Family, friends and neighbors mounted an immediate rescue operation.
As the rescue operation continued Monday morning, with many people using their bare hands to find victims, another slide erupted, burying many of the would-be rescuers.
"The death toll surged after the people who came to rescue also got trapped," said Gofa district administrator Misikir Mitiku. "It is a very sad incident."
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said in a statement he was "deeply saddened by this terrible loss" in Gofa and that a federal disaster prevention task force had been sent to the location.
World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who is Ethiopian, said his agency also has dispatched a team to the site.
About 300 people from nearby villages had run to rescue their neighbors after the first mudslide, Habtamu Fetena, the leader of the local government's emergency response, told The New York Times.
Fetena estimated just 20 people were able to successfully escape the second slide.
"They had no clue that the land they were standing on was about to swallow them," he told the Times.
"There are children who are hugging corpses, having lost their entire family, including mother, father, brother and sister," Markos Melese, director of the disaster response agency in Gofa Zone, told The Associated Press.
Source: apnews.com
Trending World
Kamala Harris criticises Trump over Arlington Cemetery dispute
02:34General strike disrupts Israel amid calls for cease-fire
12:17Illegal visa network making millions fleecing students
18:41China school bus crashes into crowd, kills 11 including students
18:07Netanyahu asks 'forgiveness' over hostage deaths as protests continue
02:39US accuses Russia of using state media to spread disinformation ahead of November election
00:23Zimbabwe court acquits more than 70 activists in detention since June
19:54Mother and daughters killed in new wave of strikes on Ukraine
12:24ICC chief prosecutor defends Netanyahu arrest warrant in BBC interview
11:13Hamas, Israel trade blame for lack of cease-fire deal as US maintains deal is near
13:04