Ethiopia Prime Minister Visits Disaster Area After Deadly Landslide.

Hornpost staff Reporter March 15, 2026 No Comments

ADDIS ABABA — (Horn post) Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, returned from an official visit to the United Arab Emirates and immediately traveled to the southern city of Arba Minch to pay tribute to victims of a deadly landslide and flooding disaster that struck communities in the wider Gamo Zone.

According to a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office, Abiy visited the affected areas shortly after arriving in Ethiopia to assess the scale of the damage and review ongoing relief operations. The disaster followed several days of heavy rainfall that triggered devastating floods and landslides across the region.

Authorities said swelling waters from the Kulfo River overflowed into nearby neighborhoods, inundating homes, farmland, and critical local infrastructure. The floods and landslides caused significant destruction and resulted in the deaths of several residents, while rescue teams continue search and recovery operations.

“Following his arrival from the UAE, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed traveled directly to Arbaminch to pay respects to those who lost their lives in communities across Arbaminch and the wider Gamo Zone and to evaluate relief efforts,” the statement said.

The Prime Minister also expressed condolences to the victims’ families in a message shared on his official social media accounts.

“I express my sorrow over the loss of the lives of our citizens who died due to the sudden landslide disaster that occurred as a result of the Belg rains in Gacho Baba and other districts of the Gamo Zone in the South Ethiopia Region,” Abiy wrote.

He added that the Ethiopian government would continue to aid communities affected by the disaster while working on long-term solutions.

“The government will continue to provide the necessary support to our affected fellow citizens. Appropriate studies and work must also be carried out to resolve the problem in a sustainable manner. Preventive measures are also necessary,” he said.

The landslides were triggered by seasonal Belg rains, which regularly affect parts of southern Ethiopia, though recent downpours have intensified flooding risks in vulnerable communities. Authorities and humanitarian teams are continuing emergency response operations as affected residents begin recovery efforts.