Ethiopia landslide death toll rises to at least 80 as three-day mourning period declared

At least 80 people have died in landslides in Ethiopia, with a three-day mourning period declared as rescue workers continue to recover bodie

Zahra Khaliq News Reporter and Laura Hill

22:28, 13 Mar 2026Updated 22:28, 13 Mar 2026

(Image: AP)

At least 80 people have died in horror landslides in Ethiopia, with a three-day period of mourning declared while rescue workers continue to recover bodies.

Landslides, set off by heavy rainfall, resulted in the deaths of dozens of inhabitants from the Gamo Zone area in the country’s south. Another 3,461 have been displaced, according to the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission on Friday. Tagesse Chafo, Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives, announced that the three days of mourning would commence on Saturday.

Hundreds of people remain unaccounted for since the disaster occurred on Tuesday, officials reported. Search and recovery operations have been ongoing for days and have been hindered by the continuous heavy rain battering the area.

The Ethiopian government has been gathering resources in collaboration with regional authorities. Contributions from private individuals and businesses are also being channelled into a fund established by the regional government for the relief effort.

(Image: AP)