Locals search for the bodies of mudslide victims in the Gacho Baba district of the Gamo Zone in southern Ethiopia on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (Photo: CFP)
The death toll following landslides in Ethiopia's southern Gamo Zone has risen to at least 70, regional officials said on Thursday, up from 52 reported earlier in the week.
The landslides struck after several days of heavy rain in the South Ethiopia region, destroying homes and forcing hundreds of residents to flee their communities.
"The accident has displaced 575 people and affected 3,480 family members. A total of 190 houses were destroyed in the zone, and 70 bodies were found," according to a statement from the regional government.
CGTN Africa correspondent Beka Atoma said on Friday that reports from the area suggest the death toll could be significantly higher, with some estimates putting the figure at as many as 120.
Regional officials said the government is providing food, non-food items, and health support to displaced residents currently staying in temporary shelters.
Officials have also warned that heavy rainfall is expected to continue over the next 10 days, with authorities urging residents living in high-risk areas to relocate.