At least 30 people died in floods and landslides across southern Ethiopia as heavy rains battered the region, according to local officials.
The deaths occurred in multiple areas of South Ethiopia Regional State, officials told the BBC. Emergency response teams have been deployed to affected communities.
Forecasters said storms are becoming more intense in the region, partly due to global warming. The current rainy season has brought unusually heavy precipitation to parts of southern Ethiopia.
Local authorities are coordinating rescue operations and assessing damage to infrastructure and agricultural areas. Several roads remain impassable due to flooding and debris from landslides.
Ethiopia faces recurring climate-related disasters, with flooding and drought cycles intensifying in recent years. The Horn of Africa nation has experienced severe flooding in 2019, 2020, and 2023, displacing hundreds of thousands of people and damaging crops critical to food security.
