The Ethiopian House of Peoples’ Representatives, the lower chamber of the parliament on Saturday declared a three-day national mourning for over 100 citizens who lost their lives after deadly landslides in the south of the country.
During the national mourning period, starting from March 14, the country’s flags will fly at half mast including at all diplomatic missions abroad, to honour the victims of the disaster, the lower chamber of the parliament, said in a statement.
Most of the casualties were in highland areas, where saturated slopes gave way after days of intense rain, according to authorities.
The tragedy struck late Tuesday night, March 10, and continued into Wednesday, as unseasonal torrential rains triggered massive soil shifts in the Gamo Zone.
According to the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) statement released Friday the disaster impacted six localities across the Gacho Baba, Bonke, Kamba Zuria, and West Abaya districts.
Local authorities confirmed that the death toll from the deadly landslide has risen to 102. The Gamo Zone Government Communication Affairs Department confirmed that more than 3,400 residents have been displaced from the affected locations.
It said officials are also assessing high-risk areas in the zone to prevent further disasters. Residents living in landslide-prone locations are being relocated to safer areas as a precautionary measure.
On Friday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (PhD) expressed his deep condolences in a social media post, stating he is “deeply saddened by the loss of lives” and confirming that the World Health Organization is “ready to support the government in providing emergency health services” to the survivors.
MG/as/APA