A series of devastating landslides have killed 23 people in four districts in the North Gondar region located 772 kilometers from the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, according to the Disaster Prevention and Food Security Bureau, the Ethiopian website Addis Standard reported on Tuesday.
The head of the Disaster Prevention Bureau, Selamehun Molat, said the landslides impacted 11 rural villages in four districts in the region, and that up to 2,700 people were displaced alongside severe damage to agriculture and property.
The bureau’s assessment indicates that 1,775 hectares of crops were damaged, and 48 residential houses were destroyed across the three districts.
Ethiopia has recently witnessed numerous landslides in different areas.
On July 22, a landslide in the village of Kensho Shasha Gozde, in the Gofa region, killed more than 257 people. Other landslides in the Dicha region, Kafa region, and the Central Sidama region resulted in more casualties and injuries.
Following the landslides, the Ethiopian Meteorological Institute issued a weather warning on August 13, warning of potential hazards such as landslides, river floods and flash floods due to the expected rainfall.
The institute stressed the need to take precautions, especially in mountainous areas, and recommended the monitoring of critical infrastructure to mitigate the risks.
