Ethiopia Mudslides Kill 64, 128 Missing

Landslides and flooding in Ethiopia's Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia Regional State, have resulted in at least 64 fatalities and 128 missing persons as of Thursday, March 12, 2026. The South Ethiopia Regional State Police Commission confirmed the death toll and missing persons count via a Facebook statement. Most victims were found buried in mud following heavy rainfall.

The disaster occurred in the Gacho Baba district, where rescue operations are ongoing. One individual was successfully rescued alive from the mud. Regional authorities have urged residents in flood-prone and highland areas to relocate due to continued heavy rains and the risk of further incidents. This event follows a pattern of increased extreme weather in East Africa, with similar flooding recently affecting neighboring Kenya.

Heavy rainfall and subsequent mudslides are common in Ethiopia during the rainy season. A previous mudslide in July 2024 in southern Ethiopia killed over 250 people. Scientific studies indicate an increasing frequency and severity of extreme wet and dry periods in East Africa over the past two decades, linked to human-driven climate change.