The death toll from landslides in Ethiopia has risen to 257 and is expected to nearly double, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) on Thursday. 
Footage from the incident
Heavy rains triggered the first landslide in the Gofa Zone of southern Ethiopia on Sunday night, followed by a second landslide on Monday that buried rescue workers.
“The death toll is expected to rise to up to 500 people as per information received from local authorities,” UNOCHA reported.
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Residents are actively digging to recover the bodies of victims of the landslides, which were caused by heavy rains in the Gofa Zone on July 23, 2024.
On Tuesday, Ethiopia’s National Disaster Risk Management Commission had reported the death toll at 229.
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Dagmawi Ayele, an administrator for the Gofa Zone, stated that rescuers had recovered 226 bodies, which were buried after a funeral ceremony, and were searching for 20 more.
“It is too dangerous to approach the site,” Ayele said, noting that the rains were still ongoing as of Thursday.
