Ethiopia landslide kills 14 at monastery ritual, search continues for missing

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - A landslide triggered by heavy rainfall in Ethiopia's Amhara region resulted in 14 fatalities and seven injuries on Monday, with an unknown number of people still missing as rescue efforts persist. The landslide occurred at the Tsadqane Debre Mitmaq St. Mary Monastery, where hundreds of worshippers had congregated for a holy water cleansing ritual aimed at healing chronic ailments.

According to Megabe Hadis Neka Tibeb Ababu, the diocese's general manager, the tragedy unfolded around 7 a.m. as many of the deceased had gathered to receive the holy water. Eleven bodies have been interred at the monastery, while the remains of others were transported to their respective hometowns. The identification of some victims remains challenging.

Among the injured, those with serious injuries were transported to Debre Birhan, the capital of North Shewa Administrative Zone, situated approximately 70 kilometers (43 miles) away from the monastery. The landslide transpired near a mountain, where substantial rocks dislodged and plummeted onto the gathering worshippers, exacerbating the calamity.

A team of experts from the local disaster prevention office has been dispatched to aid in the ongoing search and rescue operations, as per a statement from the local administration's communications office.

Mudslides and flooding have become increasingly prevalent in Ethiopia, especially during the rainy season, known locally as Kiremt, which spans from June to September. In July 2024, a devastating mudslide claimed the lives of at least 257 individuals in southern Ethiopia.