Landslides in Ethiopia claim 229 lives

A double landslide in southwestern Ethiopia killed 229 people on Monday, burying rescuers who rushed to help those initially trapped.

Lynsey Chutel and Kumerra Gemechu report for The New York Times.

In short:

• The first landslide struck Geze district, killing many villagers; a second landslide hit rescuers an hour later.
• Continuous heavy rains had saturated the land, leading to the deadly mudslides.
• The region is increasingly vulnerable to climate change, experiencing severe weather patterns and more frequent natural disasters.

Key quote:

“They had no clue that the land they were standing on was about to swallow them.”

— Habtamu Fetena, local government emergency response head

Why this matters:

Climate change is intensifying extreme weather events in East Africa, leading to more frequent and severe natural disasters. Understanding these impacts is crucial for improving disaster preparedness and response