The Ethiopian government formally expressed sorrow over the Gamo Zone landslide and pledged rehabilitation support for affected citizens, two days after the March 10 disaster that killed at least 30 people.
The Government Communication Service (GCS) issued the statement on March 12, according to state media reports. The landslide struck four districts in Gamo Zone, South Ethiopia Regional State.
The government "expressed its deep sorrow over the loss of life and displacement of citizens due to the landslide," according to the Ethiopian News Agency. The GCS pledged "support and rehabilitation for affected citizens," Fana Broadcasting reported.
The formal government response came 48 hours after the March 10 disaster. The Abay Times previously reported that floods and landslides killed at least 30 people across southern Ethiopia, with Gamo Zone among the hardest-hit areas.
State media described the incident as resulting in "tragic loss" across the four affected districts but did not provide updated casualty figures. Displaced residents require immediate humanitarian assistance, according to local officials cited in earlier reports.
Ethiopia faces heightened landslide risk through 2027, according to a government warning issued this week. The National Disaster Risk Management Commission identified seven regions as particularly vulnerable to landslides during the current rainy season. Gamo Zone has experienced multiple deadly landslides in recent years, including incidents that killed dozens of residents in similar weather-related disasters.
