At least 52 people have been confirmed dead following a landslide in the Gamo Zone in Ethiopia earlier this week.
Authorities said about 50 others are still missing after the landslide, which was triggered by heavy rainfall in the area.
In a statement, the communications office of the Gamo Zone said rescue teams were continuing search operations.
- READ ALSO: DRC Landslides Claim Over 200 Lives
“It has been confirmed that 52 people have lost their lives, and efforts are continuing intensively to locate 50 people whose whereabouts are unknown,” the office said.
Officials from the regional government in Ethiopia also confirmed the same death toll.
According to the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation, residents gathered at the scene of the disaster, where parts of a hillside had been stripped of vegetation.
Some people were seen standing knee-deep in mud as rescue efforts continued.
According to reports, landslides are not uncommon in parts of southern Ethiopia during the rainy season, when heavy downpours can weaken slopes and trigger sudden ground collapses.
Reuters