According to Tagesse Chafo, Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives, the mourning period will begin on Saturday following the tragedy in the Gamo Zone.
The landslides were triggered by heavy rainfall and struck residential areas on Tuesday, leaving dozens dead and many others still missing. Rescue teams have been searching for victims for several days, but their efforts have been slowed by continued rain.
Regional communications official Hailemariam Tesfaye said search and recovery operations have been intensified as authorities try to locate those still trapped or missing.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission reported that at least 3,461 people have been displaced by the disaster. The government has begun coordinating with regional authorities and mobilizing resources to support affected communities.
The disaster comes as much of East Africa experiences heavy seasonal rains. In nearby Kenya, flash floods have already killed dozens of people.
Regional climate experts from the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre warn that the March–April–May rainy season has a high chance of bringing above-average rainfall across several East African countries.
Source: Newstimehub
