STORY: Rescue efforts underway as death toll rises to 229 in southern Ethiopia landslide
SHOOTING TIME: July 23, 2024
DATELINE: July 24, 2024
LENGTH: 00:00:34
LOCATION: Addis Ababa
CATEGORY: SOCIETY/OTHERS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the locals

STORYLINE:

The death toll from a landslide in southern Ethiopia has risen to 229 as rescue operations are currently underway, local government officials said on Tuesday.
   
Misikir Mitiku, the chief administrator of the Geze Gofa District, told a press conference on Tuesday that the first landslide incident occurred Sunday night after hours of heavy rains, affecting three family members. Additional accidents that occurred Monday morning buried an unknown number of local community members who had gathered at the scene for rescue efforts.
   
Among the casualties were children and women as well as security personnel and local government officials who were undertaking rescue operations.
   
As part of precautionary measures following the deadly incident, local authorities said they have temporarily relocated vulnerable community members into public facilities, such as schools.
   
They said some 10 individuals who were rescued alive are currently receiving medical treatments in nearby health facilities.
   
Local officials also said the death toll is likely to rise as more and more dead bodies are being recovered buried under the mud.
   
The deadly landslide occurred as Ethiopia is in the midst of a rainy season, which started in July and is expected to last until mid-September. Seasonal rains occasionally cause deadly landslides in some parts of the East African country.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Addis Ababa.
(XHTV)