The death toll from two landslides in southern Ethiopia has risen from 157 to 229 in the space of a few hours, a local government said on Tuesday in a statement.
The landslide occurred at around 10 a.m, local time, in southern Ethiopia’s Geze Gofa district on Monday.
“The number of deaths has increased due to additional accidents on the people who went to the area for life-saving work. said the Gofa Zone Government Communication Affairs Department in a statement.
“Searching still going on and there are bodies that are yet to be recovered. The area is very challenging,” Fetene said
“Teachers, health professionals, and agriculture professionals who were present early in the accident for rescue work have become victims of the accident,” said the statement.
The local community is currently working to save the lives of the injured and provide shelter and food to the victims, said the statement.
Ethiopian Red Cross Association and professionals from neighboring regions and zones are at the site, helping the victims.
The rescue work being carried out on the site is by manpower only. The local government has called on all Ethiopians to give any support and attention needed to the zone for further rescue efforts, the statement said.
MG/abj/APA