A landslide in Ethiopia’s Amhara region killed 14 people and injured seven others on Monday, with an unknown number of individuals still unaccounted for as search and rescue operations continue. The disaster struck Tsadqane Debre Mitmaq St. Mary Monastery during a holy water cleansing ritual.
Megabe Hadis Neka Tibeb Ababu, the diocese’s general manager, stated that the incident occurred around 7 a.m. Many of the deceased had gathered for the ritual, which is often sought for spiritual healing. Ababu indicated that an unknown number of people are believed to be trapped beneath the debris. He added that 11 bodies have been buried at the monastery, while the remains of others were sent to their hometowns, noting the difficulty in identifying some victims.
Those with serious injuries were transported to Debre Birhan, the capital of North Shewa Administrative Zone, located approximately 70 kilometers (43 miles) from the monastery. The landslide was exacerbated by massive rocks that broke loose from a nearby mountain and crashed onto the worshippers.
A team of experts from the local disaster prevention office has been dispatched to aid in the search and rescue efforts, according to a statement from the local administration’s communications office.
Mudslides and flooding due to heavy rainfall have become more frequent in Ethiopia, particularly during the Kiremt season, which spans from June to September. In July 2024, a mudslide caused by heavy rains resulted in at least 257 fatalities in southern Ethiopia. Earlier in the year, a similar mudslide in Gamo, also in southern Ethiopia, claimed over 100 lives.
The Horn of Africa nation is increasingly impacted by extreme weather events attributed to climate change. Inadequate infrastructure, especially in rural areas, leaves many communities highly vulnerable to flooding, landslides, and recurring droughts, with limited capacity to respond to such disasters.